DeBoer will be making changes to Bulldogs’ staff while getting Indiana ready for Gator Bowl
Fresno State coach Kalen DeBoer flew back to Indiana after a productive national letter of intent signing day to help the Hoosiers prepare for their Jan. 2 Gator Bowl match up against Tennessee.
But while in game prep DeBoer also will spend some time working on his Bulldogs’ staff, which could have more turnover than might have been anticipated given his history as offensive coordinator under coach Jeff Tedford and with assistant coaches that racked up 26 wins and a Mountain West Conference championship over the past three seasons.
“There are going to be some changes on the staff,” DeBoer said. “There are so many fluid situations and it continues to evolve.
“I don’t really want to get into where I see it going yet – I have a plan, a plan that has a lot of backups to it. I just know that we’re going to have great coaches that come in here and are going to be awesome teachers, experts in the Xs and Os and we’re going to have great chemistry among the staff and that’s going to filter on to our players. If they’re going to have great chemistry, it has to come from how we work, Every staff that I’ve been on has had that, had that great chemistry.”
DeBoer said when hired that offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb will return and call plays again next season, but tight ends coach Scott Thompson already has bid Fresno State farewell on social media.
The Bulldogs’ other position coaches are exploring opportunities or waiting to hear from DeBoer on what comes next.
DeBoer and Grubb have a long history going back to NAIA Sioux Falls, where DeBoer went 67-3 and won three national titles.
Grubb was the Sioux Falls offensive line coach and run game coordinator from 2007 to ‘09, then took over as offensive coordinator when DeBoer left to run the offense at FCS Southern Illinois.
Ties to the other coaches on Tedford’s staff do not run that deep, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. The former Fresno State coach had some familiar faces on his first staff at his alma mater, but had never worked with DeBoer and pulled defensive coordinator Orlondo Steinauer from the Canadian Football League.
“There are going to be guys that will be with us and guys that will transition,” DeBoer said. “The process is hard. It’s late December already. Jobs are coming and going pretty quickly and these guys need to look at those opportunities.
“That’s why I have communicated with them to give them an indication of what I’m thinking and then also to hear them out as far as what they’re looking for, as well.”