Jeff Tedford staying as Fresno State football coach after stepping away for health

Fresno State coach Jeff Tedford set off alarm bells in December when he stepped aside due to what the athletics department said in a brief statement were “health concerns.”

It was the third time real life wrenched its way into a career that has played out at an exceptionally high level and includes two Mountain West Conference championships in five seasons at his alma mater.

But Tedford, who had heart issues in 2014 when with the NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneers and again when he had to step away from the Fresno State program following the 2019 season, was never far away and said he never thought that he would be stepping down. The week before the New Mexico Bowl, while undergoing tests and his health was evaluated, he was on the phone often with the football team’s staff including interim coach Tim Skipper.

Given the trust level, those conversations were more check-ins than anything. “I wasn’t micromanaging,” Tedford said. “Coach (Pat) McCann would say, ‘We’re going to do a lot of shifts and motions —we’re seeing a lot of this and a lot of that from them on defense. I was, ‘Great. Go for it. ... Sounds good to me.’”

Tedford also met with the team before it departed for Albuquerque, where the Bulldogs beat New Mexico State 37-10. He made a video for recruits coming in on a crucial weekend of official visits just before the early signing period.

He stayed connected.

And, the Monday after the bowl victory, he was back at work.

“You know, health is something you don’t have control over,” Tedford said. “It just happened to be an untimely situation, but I’m motivated and excited to continue.”

Tedford under contract through 2027

Tedford will continue to have his health monitored and evaluated, but at a time college football coaches are hitting the escape hatch and there is more pressure built into the job description with a hyperactive NCAA transfer portal and the influence of Name, Image and Likeness, he intends to continue coaching.

He is under contract through 2027, and did not rule out coaching beyond that. “I don’t think anyone knows what’s in store for them, but I enjoy what I’m doing.” Tedford said. “I think that’s the best way to put it.”

The reason is the same as it was in 2022 when he returned to Fresno State after a two-year absence and promptly won a second conference title: purpose.

“The purpose wasn’t necessarily to win,” he said. “Yes, you want to do that. But part of the purpose is what we do every day: to be around the kids. That’s a huge part of the purpose. I think that’s important. Even guys who have stepped away right now and they’ve only been away from it for a month and I talk to them, like, ‘How are you doing?’ and they say, ‘Ah, I don’t know.’ This becomes very addictive to be around these kids and to constantly see their improvement and their growth.

“It’s hard to explain. I don’t know where you would find that anywhere else; something that would create the same amount of satisfaction. At least for me, personally. The only other thing I can think of is family — grandkids. But there’s something about seeing people develop, to grow.”

He talked about lessons learned, about dealing with adversity, learning to communicate, time management. The academic component, Tedford said, sometimes gets lost.

“I still think that’s a huge part of what our purpose is,” he said. “Our main objective is to get kids to graduate, to get an education. I don’t think we can lose sight of that. Football careers are very short lived. The education piece and all the things that the college experience brings are important — and not just what’s in the books.”

He inched forward in a lounge chair in his office on the second floor of the Duncan Building well into a two-hour-plus conversation about his health, about Fresno State football and the state of college football, including the transfer portal and NIL, the poaching of players and a potential new headache every half hour.

“Let’s not forget why we’re really here,” he said.

Bulldogs add to recruiting class

The players are a large part of that and Fresno State added one more Wednesday, the traditional letter of intent signing day. The Bulldogs signed cornerback Camrin Cole from Seguin High in Arlington, Texas, who joins a group of 16 recruits who signed back in December.

The class has a heavy Valley presence including running back Bryson Donelson from Central Valley Christian in Visalia, The Bee’s high school player of the year. Buchanan High linebacker Logan Studt also signed in December, as did the Clovis West trio of wideout Marshel Sanders, linebacker Tytus Khajavi and defensive back Jordan Pierro.

When Tedford was out, the message was simple.

“The message to them was: Nothing is changing,” Tedford said. “I really commend our staff because our staff has great relationships with them. I had a chance to talk to the recruits on the phone and things like that. I was just out of town the weekend they came to campus, that’s why I made a video for them.

“But I thought the staff did a really nice job. Recruiting is not just about the head coach or me. It’s the environment and the culture we create as a staff, and we have an awesome staff.”

Now, it all shifts again.

The season opener is Aug. 31 at Michigan, the defending national champion.

The Bulldogs start spring practices March 15. The schedule and practice plans are in place. A spring transfer portal window opens in April, along with a recruiting evaluation period.

Jim Harbaugh left Michigan after winning the national championship to coach the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers. Jeff Hafley left a Power Five job at Boston College to be the Green Bay Packers’ defensive coordinator. UCLA coach Chip Kelly has reportedly been interviewing for offensive coordinator positions in the NFL.

Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer, the former Fresno State offensive coordinator and coach, hired two sitting Group of Five coaches to be assistants on his staff.

An argument can be made that if coaching football is what is important, there are better places for it than at the top of a staff directory at a FBS (football bowl subdivision) program.

But Tedford never contemplated the end and never considered a succession plan for a program he restored to prominence, making history along the way. He is the first coach to inherit a one-win team and win 10 or more games in his first two seasons, going 10-4 in 2017 and 12-2 in 2018. He also is the first coach to start a season 1-4 and finish with 10 or more wins and win a conference championship, which the Bulldogs did in 2022.

His purpose didn’t waver.

“As far as my drive and motivation to coach and all that, no, not at all,” he said. “You know, health is something you don’t have control over. That’s the same for anybody, in any profession or anywhere. It just happened to be an untimely situation, but I’m motivated and excited to continue.

“I love being around the kids, love being around the staff and the program.”

This story was originally published February 9, 2024, 5:30 AM.