Fresno State got a big bonus from Jeff Tedford, its new coach, in finalizing contract

Fresno State hit a home run with its hire of Jeff Tedford, in more ways than just one. The contract tying the Bulldogs’ coach to his alma mater for the next five years is a big deal because it is not a big deal; a win for athletics director Terry Tumey, the athletics department and university considering where they were four years ago.

But, it doesn’t get done without Tedford, Tumey said Wednesday, before an introductory press conference.

“It was definitely a collaboration,” Tumey said. “Both sides had to move in concert and have concessions in order for this to get to this day.”

The five-year deal is worth $8.25 million, roughly the same base salary as his previous contract at Fresno State, signed in 2016 under former athletics and university administrations. That contract included more than $2.7 million in annual performance bonuses, which pushed Tedford’s total pay close to and then past $3 million in 2017 and ‘18, big numbers for a revenue-challenged athletics department to absorb.

In the new contract, the performance bonuses will top out at $350,000.

“That’s not what this is all about. This is about everything else … This is about getting that done,” Tedford said, standing on the balcony outside his office and pointing toward Bulldog Stadium, overdue for renovation. “This is about doing the right thing with these kids. It’s about that purpose, that passion. That really is something …“

Tedford shifted gears to a reunion at Cal a few months back and his former players who were there, some from his first team in 2002, some from his last team in 2012, and the relationships and the talks and lessons learned.

“You have to have a purpose in life,” he said. “Sitting around on the couch is not a purpose. I got a chance to reflect, and like I said, you really don’t get a chance to do that when you’re in the thick of it. The reflection said, ‘You’re a football coach. You have a passion for it. You have a purpose for a lot of things, be it love for the community, love for Bulldog football, love for the kids. It’s all those things. It’s pretty simple.”

Tedford showed that, in signing a below-market contract to return to his alma mater, where he played quarterback and worked as an assistant coach, offensive coordinator and head coach until having to step away following the 2019 season due to heart-related health issues.

Bulldogs got big assist from Tedford with contract

He will be paid a base salary of $1.5 million in the first season of the contract, a significant bargain for Fresno State given contracts not only across the country but also within the Mountain West Conference.

Colorado State coach Jay Norvell, hired on Monday, will reportedly be paid $9 million over five years, an average of $1.8 million per year. Wyoming coach Craig Bohl was paid $1.6 million this season, former Colorado State coach Steve Addazio $1.55 million and UNLV coach Marcus Arroyo $1.5 million.

Those four coaches have a combined record of 83-104 with those programs or in the case of Norvell, who the Rams hired away from Mountain West rival Nevada, their previous program.

Tedford is 108-71 in his career including a 26-14 run with a Mountain West Conference championship in his first three seasons at Fresno State, and could have commanded a much larger salary had he chosen to resume his career outside a Valley that has been home for 40 years.

“I think we both have goals. We both have a really strong sense of what legacy means, both to Fresno State and both to Coach Tedford, as well,” university president Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval said. “Within that, I think the moment was right for this. It just was. He’s an experienced coach. He has a passion for the Valley like nobody else. He’s not someone whom we will say, ‘Lets see what he is all about. Is he going to stay? Is he going to understand us? Will he understand the community? Will he engage with the community?’ All of that is a given with him, and more.

“This is exactly the right person for exactly the right job.”

This story was originally published December 8, 2021 at 3:47 PM.