Over the past few days, speculation has been growing that Jeff Tedford could be Fresno State’s top target in its search for a new head coach. While nothing is finalized, it appears to be headed in that general direction.
FootballScoop.com is reporting Wednesday afternoon that “Tedford is closing in on a deal to become Fresno State’s next head coach.” The website adds “that if negotiations go well a deal could be struck in the next 24 hours.”
Tedford, who played quarterback at Fresno in the early eighties, would be replacing Tim DeRuyter, who was fired Oct. 23 in the midst of his fifth season with the Bulldogs.
Tedford has spent his entire collegiate coaching career west of the Rocky Mountains, most notably as the head coach at Cal from 2002-12 prior to his firing. Before to that, he was an assistant at Oregon (1998-2001) and his alma mater Fresno State (1992-97). His only coaching experience in another part of the country came as the offensive coordinator of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2014, but that short stint was marred by a health issue that actually kept him from performing his duties during that one season with the NFL club.
Earlier this year, Chris Petersen announced that Tedford had been added to his Washington football staff as a consultant.