Fresno State head coach Jeff Tedford is stepping down due to health concerns at 62 years old. He completed two seasons in his second stint with the Bulldogs, as his first ended in 2019 due to health reasons.
A message from Coach Tedford: pic.twitter.com/BuK5b28rkv
— Fresno State Football (@FresnoStateFB) July 15, 2024
With just over a month until the 2024 season officially kicks off, where does Fresno State go from here?
What’s Next for Fresno State After Jeff Tedford Departure?
After serving as the program’s QBs coach and offensive coordinator from 1992-97, Tedford returned as head coach in 2017. Across two stints and five seasons, he led the Bulldogs to four bowl appearances and a 45-22 record, including a 19-8 split the last two years.
Tedford attended Mountain West Media Days last week and expressed confidence in his coaching staff to run the show without him. “No question, they’re in great hands. Whether I’m there or not, these guys can take it and run with it. I have unbelievable confidence with them.”
MORE: 2024 Fresno State Bulldogs Depth Chart
Northwestern and Utah State are two programs that have had to search for a new head coach in close proximity to the season, although under very different circumstances — the Wildcats’ Pat Fitzgerald was fired following hazing allegations last July, and the Aggies’ Blake Anderson was fired last month due to allegedly failing to comply with Title IX regulations.
Both programs went with an in-house hire as their interim head coach, with Northwestern ultimately removing the interim tag on David Braun in November. The Bulldogs will likely go in the same direction, with assistant head coach/LBs coach Tim Skipper, who has been with the program since 2022 and ran the team for the bowl game last year, being the favorite to take the reigns from Tedford.
Skipper is a Fresno State alum, playing linebacker for the program from 1997-2000. Then, in 2006, he returned to coach the running backs until he moved to LBs/defensive run game coordinator from 2009-11.
While Skipper is presumably the preferred option, the Bulldogs have three other coaches who could step into the role.
- DC Kevin Coyle: Vast coaching experience at 68 years old, including as the head coach of the AAF’s Atlanta Legends in 2019. Coached DBs in the NFL from 2001-2017. Prior to that, served as Fresno State’s DC from 1997-2000.
- OC Pat McMann: The unlikeliest of the bunch, as he joined the staff as the WRs coach in 2022 before earning his first FBS offensive coordinator role last season. The Bulldogs ranked No. 2 in passing offense and No. 5 in scoring/total offense in the Mountain West.
- Special teams coordinator John Baxter: Tedford’s 61-year-old associate head coach who is also on his second stint in Fresno after being the WRs/TEs/STs coordinator from 2002-09. Has 39 years of coaching on his résumé and has worked with several positions.
KEEP READING: Mountain West Strength of Schedule
The Mountain West’s preseason predicted order of finish placed the Bulldogs third, behind only Boise State and UNLV. And in our MWC Power Rankings, Fresno State checked in at No. 2. Even with Tedford gone, the program is in good hands and shouldn’t fall down the list.
Eight offensive and six defensive starters return, including QB Mikey Keene and RB Malik Sherrod, and Fresno State signed the No. 5 recruiting class and No. 7 transfer portal class in the conference, according to 247Sports. They have the talent to post their fourth straight nine-win campaign, which would be their first such streak since 2001-04. The Bulldogs just need to name who will lead the program.
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