On Monday, Pete Thamel reported that former Fresno State coach Jeff Tedford was the leading candidate in that school’s search for a new head coach after Kalen DeBoer left to become the new head coach for Washington.
Tuesday afternoon, it was all but a done deal.
Sources: Fresno State is finalizing a deal to make Jeff Tedford the next head coach. Deal has been progressing as expected and should be done in next day. https://t.co/q3WwGaLQ8d
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 8, 2021
Tedford played for Fresno before becoming an assistant on the coaching staff between 1992 and 1997. After his coaching career took him to become the head coach of the Cal Bears, he resurfaced as the head coach with the Fresno State, going 10-4 and 12-2 in his first two seasons before dropping to 4-8 in his third season, later resigning due to health reasons. He would soon after have a cardiac ablation, a procedure that blocks abnormal electrical signals in the heart and helps restore normal heart rhythms.
Since then, Tedford has said his health is on the mend and wanted to get back into coaching. Returning to Fresno seems like the ideal scenario for both sides as the school hopes to maintain the success of their 9-3 effort in 2021 and Tedford has proven he can win there.
I have been told Jeff Tedford to Fresno State is a done deal.
— Andrew Marden (@andrewmarden) December 8, 2021
While they await news that the deal is officially official, folks from around college football, including the Fresno area, are reacting to the news in a generally positive way.
A welcome update for Fresno State fans who have been waiting anxiously all day: https://t.co/Tbjd4wKQns
— Gabe Camarillo (@gabecamarillo_) December 8, 2021
https://t.co/QJTIPrvv4F pic.twitter.com/PG6D7pyvKV
— Bulldog Bounce (@BulldogBornBred) December 8, 2021
That has a nice ring to it! Love seeing Tedford back at Fresno State. https://t.co/SgAee4uK99
— Julia Lopez (@JuliaLopez3) December 8, 2021
Wow. Really thought he was done. Great coach. https://t.co/JoFT5M57LS
— Mark Anderson (@markanderson65) December 8, 2021
Tedford has a strong reputation for developing quarterbacks and his list of signal-callers that he’s recruited and coached include Trent Dilfer, David Carr, Aaron Rodgers, and Joey Harrington. He also recruited Jared Goff to Cal but was fired before he was able to coach him.
There’s a rumor floating out there that if Tedford did take the job, former Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez might want to join him. That’d be quite the transfer arrival and proof that the new/old coach has still got it.
I've been told Adrian Martinez would be interested in Fresno State if Jeff Tedford is the HC. Adrian is also linked to Kansas State and Cal. Doing his due diligence. I think a year under Tedford would get him the most NFL ready. Offered Adrian at FS. Multiple options on the table
— George Takata (@georgetakata) December 7, 2021