Will Fresno State lose Kalen DeBoer to a Pac-12 job? Washington hunting for a new coach

Fresno State has been preparing for the eventuality that Power Five conference suitors would come after coach Kalen DeBoer and its assistant coaches given the Bulldogs’ success on the football field, but that time might come far sooner than Bulldogs leaders anticipated with Washington cutting ties on Sunday afternoon with coach Jimmy Lake.

DeBoer, who has had success against Power Five opponents as the offensive coordinator at Indiana and Fresno State as well as this season as the Bulldogs’ coach, was among a number of coaches in the West quickly linked to the opening at one of the top programs in the Pac-12 by national media.

Brigham Young coach Kalani Sitake, Nevada coach Jay Norvell, San Jose State coach Brent Brennan, Oregon offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead and Cal coach Justin Wilcox also were among the names mentioned as potential candidates.

Fresno State athletics director Terry Tumey said in an interview during the Bulldogs’ first bye week that the university and athletics department was intent on keeping the right pieces in place, if at all possible.

“We recognize that when you have quality individuals and a momentum that is moving forward you want to do what you need to do in order to ensure that continues in the future,” he said.

“That means we need to invest. Whether that means investing in our facilities and capital improvement or investing in our people we need to do that, and I feel as though an investment in a known commodity is much better than an investment in an unknown commodity.”

But DeBoer could draw attention from Washington with the Bulldogs 8-3 and 5-2 and in the race for a West Division title in the Mountain West after navigating a 2020 season that was filled with COVID-19 challenges.

For starters, Fresno State with far fewer resources beat then-No. 13 UCLA, which beat the Huskies. It also nearly pulled off an upset on the road at then-No. 11 Oregon, and the Ducks also beat Washington in Seattle.

The quick turnarounds with struggling offenses could also pique interest.

DeBoer resume built around success with offenses

When DeBoer arrived at Fresno State he inherited an offense coming off a dreadful season, averaging just 329.3 yards and 17.7 points per game. Two seasons later, the Bulldogs averaged 421.5 and 34.6.

Indiana was ranked seventh in the Big Ten in total offense the year before DeBoer was hired, improved to third in his one season in Bloomington, and now two seasons after his departure the Hoosiers are 13th.

Washington is in need of many things, including a fresh start after Lake became tangled in a series of incidents including a one-game suspension without pay for shoving a player on the sidelines. The Huskies are ranked 10th in the Pac-12 in total offense and ninth in scoring offense, averaging 325.5 yards and 22.8 points per game.

The Fresno State coach is in the second year of a five-year contract worth $7 million. He will be paid $1.35 million this season, not including performance bonuses, and the deal tops out at $1.5 million in 2024. There are automatic extensions tied to season record and conference wins in the first three years of the deal and performance bonuses.

DeBoer this season has earned $25,000 bonuses for a seventh and an eighth regular-season victory.

The contract puts DeBoer in the middle of the Mountain West Conference behind Wyoming coach Craig Bohl ($1.6 million), Colorado State coach Steve Addazio ($1.55 million), UNLV coach Marcus Arroyo ($1.5 million) and Boise State coach Andy Avalos ($1.4 million).

At Washington, defensive coordinator Bob Gregory will serve as interim coach, and the Huskies will start a search immediately.

“Making a head coaching change in any sport is difficult, recognizing that the decision impacts coaches, staff, student-athletes and their families,” athletics director Jennifer Cohen said, in a press release.

“However, as the steward of UW Athletics, I must always act in the best interests of our student-athletes, our department and our university. No one wanted Jimmy to succeed more than I when I hired him in 2019, but ultimately, this change is necessary for a variety of reasons, both on the field and off. I am grateful for Jimmy’s service to Washington, and we wish him the very best of luck moving forward.”

This story was originally published November 14, 2021 at 8:39 PM.