Football
Vic So'oto
- Title:
- Assistant Coach, Linebackers
- Alma Mater:
- BYU, '10
- Year at UCLA:
- 1st in 2026
Vic So’oto enters his first season as linebackers coach at UCLA in 2026. He arrived in Westwood after spending the last four seasons at California, where he oversaw outside linebackers and special teams before ascending to co-defensive coordinator in 2025.
The 2026 campaign will mark So’oto’s 12th year in coaching and 10th as a full-time position coach.
Prior to his time in Berkeley, So’oto (pronounced so-OH-toe) made stops at USC (2020-21), Virginia (2016-19), and his alma mater BYU (2015). He has helped his teams to postseason berths in seven of the last nine seasons, including the 2020 Pac-12 Championship game while at USC and three consecutive bowl games over his final three campaigns with the Golden Bears.
So’oto added co-defensive coordinator duties to his plate in 2025, helping Cal to a berth in the Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl. During the regular season, the Golden Bears ranked fourth in the ACC in passing defense (197.3 yards per game) and allowed a league-low 10 passing touchdowns. Standouts from the defensive unit included All-American cornerback Hezekiah Masses (five interceptions) and ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year Luke Ferrelli, who led all league freshman with 91 tackles.
Defense paved the way for an LA Bowl berth for California in 2024, as the Golden Bears ranked third in the ACC and No. 36 nationally in total defense (337.5) and second in the league and No. 14 nationally in rushing defense (109.8). Under So’oto’s tutelage, linebacker Teddye Buchanan earned First Team All-ACC accolades, while punter Lachlan Wilson was a Second Team All-ACC choice.
California started a run of three consecutive bowl-eligible seasons in 2023. So’oto’s linebacker group helped California put together a stout rushing defense (133.4 yards per game) which ranked top-40 in the country. Cal won three of its first four games in So’oto’s debut season of 2022.
So’oto’s two-year stint at USC was highlighted by a 5-1 COVID-shortened season in 2020, as the Trojans went undefeated in the regular season en route to an appointment with Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship. So’oto coached defensive lineman Marlon Tuipulotu to First Team All-Pac-12 honors. During the season, So’oto was named to the American Football Coaches Association “35 Under 35” list.
So’oto spent four seasons on Bronco Mendenhall’s staff at Virginia from 2016-19, helping the Cavaliers to a trio of bowl berths. Highlights for Virginia during his stint included a 28-0 win over South Carolina in the 2018 Belk Bowl and a Coastal Division Championship in 2019.
A 2010 graduate of BYU, So’oto got his start in coaching at his alma mater in 2015 as an intern. During his lone season on staff in Provo, the Cougars went 9-3 during the regular season to secure a spot in the Las Vegas Bowl against Utah.
Prior to making the move to coaching, So’oto spent four seasons on NFL rosters for the Green Bay Packers (2011-12), Oakland Raiders (2012), Washington Commanders (2012), Arizona Cardinals (2013), New Orleans Saints (2013), and Pittsburgh Steelers (2014). He signed as an undrafted free agent with Green Bay ahead of the 2011 campaign.
So’oto was a four-year letterwinner over six seasons at BYU (2005-10), culminating in a standout senior season (45 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, one interception) that resulted in First Team All-Mountain West honors. A native of Oceanside, Calif., So’oto was an All-CIF First Team honoree at Carlsbad High School.
So’oto’s Coaching Experience
2015 – Intern, BYU
2016 – Graduate Assistant (Defense), Virginia
2017-19 – Defensive Line, Virginia
2020 – Defensive Line, USC
2021 – Defensive Line/Outside Linebackers, USC
2022 – Outside Linebackers, California
2023, 2024 – Special Teams Coordinator/Outside Linebackers, California
2025 – Co-Defensive Coordinator/Outside Linebackers, California
2026 – Linebackers, UCLA
The 2026 campaign will mark So’oto’s 12th year in coaching and 10th as a full-time position coach.
Prior to his time in Berkeley, So’oto (pronounced so-OH-toe) made stops at USC (2020-21), Virginia (2016-19), and his alma mater BYU (2015). He has helped his teams to postseason berths in seven of the last nine seasons, including the 2020 Pac-12 Championship game while at USC and three consecutive bowl games over his final three campaigns with the Golden Bears.
So’oto added co-defensive coordinator duties to his plate in 2025, helping Cal to a berth in the Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl. During the regular season, the Golden Bears ranked fourth in the ACC in passing defense (197.3 yards per game) and allowed a league-low 10 passing touchdowns. Standouts from the defensive unit included All-American cornerback Hezekiah Masses (five interceptions) and ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year Luke Ferrelli, who led all league freshman with 91 tackles.
Defense paved the way for an LA Bowl berth for California in 2024, as the Golden Bears ranked third in the ACC and No. 36 nationally in total defense (337.5) and second in the league and No. 14 nationally in rushing defense (109.8). Under So’oto’s tutelage, linebacker Teddye Buchanan earned First Team All-ACC accolades, while punter Lachlan Wilson was a Second Team All-ACC choice.
California started a run of three consecutive bowl-eligible seasons in 2023. So’oto’s linebacker group helped California put together a stout rushing defense (133.4 yards per game) which ranked top-40 in the country. Cal won three of its first four games in So’oto’s debut season of 2022.
So’oto’s two-year stint at USC was highlighted by a 5-1 COVID-shortened season in 2020, as the Trojans went undefeated in the regular season en route to an appointment with Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship. So’oto coached defensive lineman Marlon Tuipulotu to First Team All-Pac-12 honors. During the season, So’oto was named to the American Football Coaches Association “35 Under 35” list.
So’oto spent four seasons on Bronco Mendenhall’s staff at Virginia from 2016-19, helping the Cavaliers to a trio of bowl berths. Highlights for Virginia during his stint included a 28-0 win over South Carolina in the 2018 Belk Bowl and a Coastal Division Championship in 2019.
A 2010 graduate of BYU, So’oto got his start in coaching at his alma mater in 2015 as an intern. During his lone season on staff in Provo, the Cougars went 9-3 during the regular season to secure a spot in the Las Vegas Bowl against Utah.
Prior to making the move to coaching, So’oto spent four seasons on NFL rosters for the Green Bay Packers (2011-12), Oakland Raiders (2012), Washington Commanders (2012), Arizona Cardinals (2013), New Orleans Saints (2013), and Pittsburgh Steelers (2014). He signed as an undrafted free agent with Green Bay ahead of the 2011 campaign.
So’oto was a four-year letterwinner over six seasons at BYU (2005-10), culminating in a standout senior season (45 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, one interception) that resulted in First Team All-Mountain West honors. A native of Oceanside, Calif., So’oto was an All-CIF First Team honoree at Carlsbad High School.
So’oto’s Coaching Experience
2015 – Intern, BYU
2016 – Graduate Assistant (Defense), Virginia
2017-19 – Defensive Line, Virginia
2020 – Defensive Line, USC
2021 – Defensive Line/Outside Linebackers, USC
2022 – Outside Linebackers, California
2023, 2024 – Special Teams Coordinator/Outside Linebackers, California
2025 – Co-Defensive Coordinator/Outside Linebackers, California
2026 – Linebackers, UCLA
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