Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Tedford Assembles All-Star Staff the Red Wave Will Love
David Website Replacement
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 3 years ago on
December 23, 2021

Share

 

Jeff Tedford announced his coaching staff on Thursday morning, and it includes several familiar names: Kevin Coyle, John Baxter, Tim Skipper, Jethro Franklin.

In addition, J.D. Williams is sticking with Fresno State, this time as defensive backs/defensive pass game coordinator.

It’s an all-star lineup. One that can stack up with any in the Mountain West, and most Power Five schools, as well.

Now in his second stint as Fresno State football head coach, Tedford had to rebuild his staff after former coach Kalen DeBoer took many assistants with him to the University of Washington.

“This staff has extensive experience and history here at Fresno State, and across the country at the highest level of college football and the NFL,” said Tedford.

“They appreciate the pride and tradition of Bulldog football, the Red Wave, and the Valley. Not only are they excellent coaches and teachers of the game, but they are quality people who will care about our student-athletes on and off the field, and a group who will continue to develop our team into a championship-level program.”

Fresno State president Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval (left) and athletics director Terry Tumey introduce new head coach Jeff Tedford. (GV Wire/Albert Baker)

Meet the Coordinators

Kirby Moore is staying with the Bulldogs, now as the offensive coordinator. Moore coached the wide receivers the past five seasons, but was promoted to OC for the New Mexico Bowl. The Bulldogs racked up 467 yards in their 31-24 victory over UTEP. He was initially hired by Tedford in the first go-around in 2017.

Kevin Coyle will serve as the defensive coordinator, in his second stint at Fresno State. Coyle was the Bulldogs’ DC under Pat Hill from 1997-2000. He most recently coached at LSU (2018-21) and has had long stints coaching in the NFL with Cincinnati and Miami.

John Baxter returns as the special teams coordinator and associate head coach. Baxter held the role for the Bulldogs from 1997-2009 during the Pat Hill era. He left for USC in 2010. Baxter is also known for his “Academic Gameplan” program to help students improve academically.

Moore, Coyle, and Baxter replace Ryan Grubb, William Inge, and Eric Schmidt, respectively. All three coaches left with DeBoer.

The Rest of the Staff

Tedford will keep J.D. Williams (defensive backs/defensive pass game coordinator) and Roman Sapolu (tight ends), who along with Moore are the only three holdovers and will have new responsibilities.

New hires include Pat McCann (wide receivers/pass game coordinator), who held a similar job with Eastern Washington. He is the only newbie with no prior ties to Tedford.

James Montgomery (running backs/recruiting coordinator) joins after a similar role at Cal Poly. Montgomery played under Tedford at Cal in 2006.

Jethro Franklin (defensive line/defensive run game coordinator) joins from Missouri. This is his third time around with Fresno State, first as a player (1986-87), then a coach (1991-98, along with Tedford).

Tim Skipper (linebackers/assistant head coach) will also be in his third Bulldogs go around, first as a player (1997-2000) then as a coach (2006-11). He joins Fresno State from Central Michigan.

A tenth coach will be announced soon.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

One Person Killed in Explosion Outside Fertility Clinic; Police Say Act Was ‘Intentional’

DON'T MISS

Trump Wants a Deal With Iran, but It May Be Weaker Than His Supporters Demand

DON'T MISS

Duffy Blamed Biden for Air Traffic Woes. It’s a Decades-Old Problem.

DON'T MISS

The Day Grok Lost Its Mind

DON'T MISS

Police and Firefighters Respond to an Explosion Rocking the California City of Palm Springs

DON'T MISS

Clovis Goes Full Throttle With Biggest Old Town Motorama Yet

DON'T MISS

Israel Launches a New Military Operation in Gaza a Day After Trump Leaves the Middle East

DON'T MISS

Kristen Stewart Was Always Ready to Direct

DON'T MISS

Walz Calls Trump a ‘Tyrant’ Who Is Trampling Americans’ Rights and Violating the Rule of Law

DON'T MISS

Severe Weather Leaves at Least 23 Dead, Including 14 in Storm-Battered Kentucky

UP NEXT

Trump Wants a Deal With Iran, but It May Be Weaker Than His Supporters Demand

UP NEXT

Duffy Blamed Biden for Air Traffic Woes. It’s a Decades-Old Problem.

UP NEXT

The Day Grok Lost Its Mind

UP NEXT

Police and Firefighters Respond to an Explosion Rocking the California City of Palm Springs

UP NEXT

Clovis Goes Full Throttle With Biggest Old Town Motorama Yet

UP NEXT

Israel Launches a New Military Operation in Gaza a Day After Trump Leaves the Middle East

UP NEXT

Kristen Stewart Was Always Ready to Direct

UP NEXT

Walz Calls Trump a ‘Tyrant’ Who Is Trampling Americans’ Rights and Violating the Rule of Law

UP NEXT

Severe Weather Leaves at Least 23 Dead, Including 14 in Storm-Battered Kentucky

UP NEXT

Trump Says He Will Call Putin, Then Zelenskyy, on Monday to Push for Ukraine Ceasefire

David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

The Day Grok Lost Its Mind

16 hours ago

Police and Firefighters Respond to an Explosion Rocking the California City of Palm Springs

16 hours ago

Clovis Goes Full Throttle With Biggest Old Town Motorama Yet

17 hours ago

Israel Launches a New Military Operation in Gaza a Day After Trump Leaves the Middle East

17 hours ago

Kristen Stewart Was Always Ready to Direct

18 hours ago

Walz Calls Trump a ‘Tyrant’ Who Is Trampling Americans’ Rights and Violating the Rule of Law

19 hours ago

Severe Weather Leaves at Least 23 Dead, Including 14 in Storm-Battered Kentucky

19 hours ago

Trump Says He Will Call Putin, Then Zelenskyy, on Monday to Push for Ukraine Ceasefire

20 hours ago

‘Eat the Tariffs!’: Trump Warns Walmart Not to Pass Costs to Customers

21 hours ago

Biden Audio Release Pressures Democrats Who Would Rather Talk About Trump

21 hours ago

One Person Killed in Explosion Outside Fertility Clinic; Police Say Act Was ‘Intentional’

An explosion that heavily damaged a fertility clinic in the upscale California city of Palm Springs appears to have been intentional, local ...

15 hours ago

15 hours ago

One Person Killed in Explosion Outside Fertility Clinic; Police Say Act Was ‘Intentional’

15 hours ago

Trump Wants a Deal With Iran, but It May Be Weaker Than His Supporters Demand

16 hours ago

Duffy Blamed Biden for Air Traffic Woes. It’s a Decades-Old Problem.

16 hours ago

The Day Grok Lost Its Mind

16 hours ago

Police and Firefighters Respond to an Explosion Rocking the California City of Palm Springs

The Old Town Motorama in Clovis is expected to draw up to 35,000 people Saturday for its biggest classic car show yet.
17 hours ago

Clovis Goes Full Throttle With Biggest Old Town Motorama Yet

17 hours ago

Israel Launches a New Military Operation in Gaza a Day After Trump Leaves the Middle East

18 hours ago

Kristen Stewart Was Always Ready to Direct

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend