Ron Caragher Ronald Allen Caragher ( born January 24 , 1967 ) is an American college football coach who is the current head coach for the San Jose State . Originally from Morgan Hill , California , Caragher played college football at UCLA and later became an assistant coach for UCLA football , first as a graduate assistant from 1994 to 1995 then as wide receivers coach from 1996 to 2002 . From 2003 to 2006 , Caragher served as running backs coach for Kentucky and was part of the 2006 Music City Bowl championship coaching staff . Caragher first became a head coach with San Diego in 2007 and remained in that position until 2012 ; during his tenure , San Diego won three Pioneer Football League championships , including in his first and final seasons . After head coach Mike MacIntyre resigned following the 2012 regular season , San Jose State hired Caragher to be head coach effective in the 2013 season . Early life . Born in Redwood City , California and raised in Morgan Hill , Caragher graduated from Bellarmine College Prep of San Jose in 1985 and lettered in three sports there . College playing career . Caragher received an athletic scholarship to the University of California , Los Angeles ( UCLA ) in 1985 . At UCLA , Caragher redshirted his freshman year then was backup quarterback from 1986 to 1989 , including two seasons behind Troy Aikman . Caragher was part of the UCLA teams that won the 1986 Freedom Bowl , 1987 Aloha Bowl , and 1989 Cotton Bowl Classic . In UCLA ' s 52 - 17 win on November 7 , 1987 over Oregon State , Caragher was one of three backup quarterbacks who substituted for Aikman during garbage time . As a junior in 1988 , Caragher completed 4 of 7 passes for 19 yards , 1 touchdown , and 2 interceptions . With UCLA leading Arizona 24 - 0 late in the fourth quarter on October 22 , Caragher came in to replace Aikman but threw an interception that led to an Arizona field goal ; UCLA would ultimately win 24 - 3 . In the 1989 Cotton Bowl , senior Caragher took over on one handoff play after Aikman lost a contact lens . In 1990 , Caragher graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology . In 1995 , Caragher earned his master ' s degree in educational administration from UCLA . Coaching career . UCLA ( 1994 – 2002 ) . Caragher became a pension administrator after finishing his bachelor ' s degree . While studying for his master ' s degree in 1994 , Caragher became a graduate assistant with UCLA football . In 1996 , Caragher became coach for wide receivers , punters , and kickers , a position he would hold until 2002 . Caragher coached UCLA for five bowl games , and UCLA had a record 20 - game winning streak from 1997 to 1998 . With Pac - 10 titles in 1997 and 1998 , UCLA also won the 1998 Cotton Bowl Classic ( following the 1997 season ) and 2002 Las Vegas Bowl . Kentucky ( 2003 – 2006 ) . From 2003 to 2006 , Caragher was running backs coach at Kentucky and was recruiting coordinator from 2005 to 2006 . Kentucky ' s 9 - 3 2006 season was the school ' s best record since 1984 , and Kentucky ' s 2006 Music City Bowl victory was its first bowl game since 1999 and first bowl win since 1984 . San Diego ( 2007 – 2012 ) . Succeeding Jim Harbaugh , Caragher became head coach at Football Championship Subdivision school San Diego in 2007 . Under Caragher , San Diego won three Pioneer Football League ( PFL ) titles : in 2007 , 2011 , and 2012 . The PFL awarded Caragher as Coach of the Year following a 9 - 2 season in 2011 , the third season with such a record under Caragher . Josh Johnson , a quarterback selected in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft , played at San Diego under Caragher . San Jose State ( 2013 – present ) . Signing a five - year contract , Caragher accepted the head coach position at San Jose State on December 17 , 2012 , a week after previous head coach Mike MacIntyre resigned to become head coach at Colorado . Caragher coached his first game in the 2013 season , as Kent Baer served as interim head coach for the 2012 Military Bowl on December 27 . In spring practice , Caragher has changed the defensive line alignment from a 4 – 3 to a 3 – 4 defense and has put quarterback David Fales under center rather than pistol offense .