Fresno State football has been on the upswing despite multiple coaching changes in recent years. Coach Jeff Tedford experienced more success in his second stint with the team, but his run with the program is over once again.
Tedford has stepped down, via 247 Sports' Matt Zenitz.
“Jeff Tedford is stepping down as the head coach at Fresno State due to health reasons, per the school,” Zenitz tweeted.”Has led Fresno to 19 wins the last two seasons. Fresno, which opens the year vs. Michigan, was picked to finish third in the Mountain West in the preseason conference poll.”
Teford released a statement via the school's X account.
“It is with sad emotions that following my recent medical check-up, it is clear that due to health concerns, my family and I have made the decision to step aside as Fresno State's head coach and allow someone else to lead the football program,” the 62-year-old said.
Tedford's first stint was from 2017-19, which also ended due to medical issues. The California native was re-hired after Kalen DeBoer left for Washington in December 2021.
“I have a tremendous amount of pride and passion for Fresno State, and I understand the time and energy necessary to lead at a high level,” he continued. “The players, coaches, and Bulldog supporters deserve the best. Unfortunately, I am not able to sustain the commitment needed to perform at the level needed to guide the program. We are extremely fortunate to have continuity with a great coaching staff. I have full confidence that they will continue to guide our terrific student-athletes to reach their full potential on and off the field.”
Assistant head and linebackers coach Tom Skipper will fill in as the interim. The Fresno State alum played linebacker for the school from 1997-2000 and has been assistant coaching at various programs since 2001. He also replaced Tedford at the New Mexico Bowl in December.
Will the Bulldogs bounce back from yet another coaching change?
Fresno State football has the talent to still win games in the Mountain West
There's no doubt that losing Tedford is a massive setback, as he's known as one of the sport's all-time best quarterback gurus. The 2017 Mountain West Coach of the Year molded Aaron Rodgers and Kyle Boller during his head-coaching stint at Cal, while also helping to develop Derek Carr, Joey Harrington, Trent Dilfer, and Akili Smith in various assistant roles.
However, the Bulldogs have shown they can do just fine without their seasoned leader. They thrashed New Mexico State 37-10 in the aforementioned bowl game with Skipper leading last year, and the team was picked to finish third in the preseason Mountain West poll.
Fresno State also has a good mix of returning starters as well as fresh talent, via CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz.
“Fresno State returns eight starters on offense and six on defense, according to CBS Sports research,” Zenitz said. “The Bulldogs signed the No. 5 recruiting class and the No. 7 transfer portal class in 2024, a haul that included Korey Foreman, the former top recruit who began his career at USC.”
This, combined with the team's good track record as of late, is a good recipe for continued success. Tedford led the Bulldogs to a 19-8 record over the last two years, and 45-22 when combined with his first tenure.
Lastly, the former Fresno State quarterback won't be completely absent from the program, either.
“I look forward to supporting the program in any way that I can as I focus on my family and my health,” Tedford continued. “My family and I will forever be grateful for the exciting and wonderful times. We also appreciate the support from the university and the community, and are grateful to have been allowed to be a part of it.”
Follow Us
Subscribe
