Fresno State on Sunday announced the firing of head football coach Tim DeRuyter, less than a day after the Bulldogs lost to Utah State to fall to 1-7 on the season.
DeRuyter was in the middle of his fifth season as head coach of the Bulldogs, but this was shaping up to be his third straight losing season following two successful ones to start his career. Offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau will be the program’s interim head coach.
Perhaps more interesting than the news of DeRuyter’s firing is who is likely to replace him.
According to George Takata, a host at 940 ESPN Radio and the Sports Director at CBS 47 in Fresno, former Cal head coach Jeff Tedford will be the school’s next head coach.
I have heard from multiple sources that Jeff Tedford will be the next Head Football Coach at Fresno State.
— George Takata (@georgetakata) October 23, 2016
No Tedford announcement coming today, but he is the guy.
— George Takata (@georgetakata) October 23, 2016
In addition to what Takata reported, others have reported that Tedford is a leading candidate for the job.
CBS Sports has learned Fresno State has fired Tim DeRuyter after a 1-7 start. Jeff Tedford leading candidate to replace.
— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) October 23, 2016
Tedford gained notoriety by reviving Cal’s football program upon taking over in 2002. He is the program’s leader in career wins and was a two-time conference coach of the year prior to being fired in 2012 after his teams had slipped.
Tedford played at Fresno State and then coached there from 1992-1997, most notably serving as the quarterbacks coach while future NFL players Trent Dilfer and Billy Volek were there.
Though Takata has reported that Tedford is the man for the job, the Fresno Bee’s Marek Warszawski says it is not a done deal:
I believe Jeff Tedford is Jim Bartko's first choice as HC. But no deal has been made, and Tedford will not be on the sideline this season.
— Marek Warszawski (@MarekTheBee) October 23, 2016
Tedford is not a done deal. I'm very confident in saying that. https://t.co/BPDjgTGdPt
— Marek Warszawski (@MarekTheBee) October 23, 2016
AD Jim Bartko says there have been "no discussions" with Jeff Tedford, who's been rumored to replace DeRuyter.
— Andrew Marden (@andrewmarden) October 23, 2016
Tedford is currently serving as an offensive consultant for the Washington Huskies.
