Fresno State needs a new football coach. The smartest move would be rehiring the old one
How should Fresno State pivot now that its head football coach departed for evergreen pastures?
By taking a page from the program’s immediate past. That means bringing back Jeff Tedford to replace the man who succeeded him and is now heading to the Pacific Northwest, Kalen DeBoer.
Now that Tedford has indicated an interest in returning to the college sidelines (according to a report by Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports), this should be the shortest coaching search in Bulldogs history. And also the biggest no-brainer.
Tedford proved to be the right coach to resurrect a moribund Fresno State program in 2017, and the 60-year-old remains the right coach to retake the reins in 2022 now that he “feels energized” nearly two years after his last heart procedure.
Health concerns were the sole reason why Tedford abruptly stepped away after the Bulldogs went 26-14 in his three seasons, and if those are behind him there’s no reason why he shouldn’t get his old job back.
“This isn’t about anything else but my health,” Tedford said after announcing his resignation in December 2019. “There is no hidden agenda here, I can assure you about that. This has solely to do with health.”
If not for that, it might have been Tedford — and not DeBoer — who climbed aboard that private jet Monday afternoon at Fresno-Yosemite International Airport bound for Seattle. It might have been Tedford who was introduced as the University of Washington’s next coach.
And if not for Tedford, DeBoer might still be a little-known assistant in the Mid-American Conference rather than a newly hired head coach in the Pac-12.
Funny how things work.
DeBoer did an excellent job at Fresno State (both as head coach and in two seasons as Tedford’s offensive coordinator) and deserves this terrific opportunity in a Power 5 conference. He is bright, engaging and driven to succeed. DeBoer also reportedly had the endorsements of both Tedford and Chris Petersen, the former Boise State and Washington coach. Which surely didn’t hurt.
The Huskies won’t win the press conference contest with this hire — especially compared to what USC pulled off with Lincoln Riley — but athletic director Jen Cohen made a smart move nonetheless.
Likewise, Bulldogs fans shouldn’t begrudge DeBoer for leaving after two seasons, one of which was curtailed by the pandemic. Rather, they should be thankful — both for the job he did and also for clearing the way for Tedford’s potential return. The timing couldn’t be better.
Tedford’s agent, Tim Younger, did not return a text asking about his client’s potential interest in his old job. However, a source who has been in recent contact with Tedford told me he was “open” to returning.
Skipper heads other names to consider
For Fresno State Athletic Director Terry Tumey, this ought to be a fairly open and shut case.
That doesn’t mean others need not apply. Former Bulldogs such as Tim Skipper, J.D. Williams and Cory Hall all deserve consideration, as does current offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb if he doesn’t accompany DeBoer to Washington. Who knows? One might be a tremendous hire. (On this list, Skipper is the name that stands out.)
But if Tedford is truly interested and his health checks out, no other realistic candidates can match his resume and track record. (No, Twitter reply guy, Pat Hill isn’t getting the job. Neither is Ed Orgeron.) In fact, I’d argue Tedford is a less risky hire now than in 2017 when he hadn’t been a college coach in five years.
There’s also a not-so-little matter of unfinished business. While Tedford won a lot of games at Fresno State — none more than in 2018, when the Bulldogs went 12-2 and won the Mountain West — he didn’t get to complete the job.
Sure, victories and trophies are nice. But Tedford sought more than that. The former Bulldogs quarterback under Jim Sweeney wanted to leave a legacy at his alma mater. Which means a remodeled, rejuvenated Bulldog Stadium and other much-needed facility improvements that Tedford didn’t have time to help accomplish the first time around.
Now he does. The next step toward securing a bright future for Fresno State football should be a reunion with the not-too-distant past.
