The Fresno State Bulldogs football program will be without its head coach during bowl season. Current head coach Jeff Tedford is “stepping away” from his position due to health concerns through the Bulldogs’ bowl game.
Current assistant head coach and linebackers coach Tim Skipper will serve as interim head coach for the Bulldogs’ bowl game.
A full statement from Fresno State athletics director Terry Tumey reads: “Fresno State football head coach Jeff Tedford announced today that he is stepping away from his duties effectively immediately to address personal health concerns. Tim Skipper, assistant head coach and linebackers coach, will serve as active head coach through the upcoming bowl game, which will be determined on Sunday.
“The entire Fresno State community sends its thoughts and prayers to Coach Tedford and wish him a speedy recovery.”
Fresno State has confirmed that Tedford is still the program’s head coach and that his leave is, at least for now, viewed as temporary.
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Tedford is stepping away for the second time in two stints as Fresno State’s head coach. He first coached the Bulldogs from 2017 to 2019, inheriting a 1-11 team and leading them to seasons of 10-4 and 12-2 including the 2018 Mountain West Championship. He then led a 4-8 team in 2019 and abruptly stepped down, citing health reasons and required surgery. His first stint concluded with a 26-14 overall record.
When his replacement, Kalen DeBoer, left Fresno State for Washington after the 2021 season, Tedford announced he was healthy and ready to coach once again. He was hired back to his former job and led the Bulldogs to a 10-4 season in 2022, concluding with a nine-game winning streak and claiming the Mountain West Championship and LA Bowl.
The 2023 team carried that momentum with an 8-1 record and national ranking before suddenly spiraling to three straight losses to finish the year at 8-4. Tedford’s second stint currently stands at 18-8, with a total Fresno State record of 44-22. Tedford currently holds a career college coaching record of 126-79 with 11 seasons at Cal from 2002 to 2012.
Tedford’s abrupt announcement and apparent health decline comes after he said he felt better than ever just a few months ago.
In an interview with the Mountain West Network at MW Media Days in July, Tedford said of how he’s feeling: “This is the best I’ve felt coaching in a long, long time. I want to coach for the next 10 years. I feel healthy, I feel great. I’m energized. I just can’t wait to get after it. Going into this thing right now we just got off vacation, my body chemistry is that I just can’t wait to get after this thing.
“I am more excited to coach than I ever have been. I think having those two years off gives you a chance to reflect and I’m so grateful that every day I go with gratification of being able to see these guys and be around the kids and be around the staff. I have a different approach to it now. I really do enjoy everything that I do … Taking the two years off really did have an effect on the attitude and how to pursue the things we do on a daily basis.”
Stay tuned for more updates on this breaking development.