Fresno State football coach Matt Entz said on Friday that Northern Illinois’ Adam Breske will be the Bulldogs’ new linebackers coach.

His hiring comes after the Bulldogs added new defensive coordinator Nick Benedetto from the Huskies last week.

Breske replaces Ben Watkins, who had been with Fresno State for five years.

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The Bulldogs lost the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl to NIU, and they’re apparently taking their coaching staff with them.

The Huskies defense ranked No. 4 in the FBS in 2024 under Benedetto. Breske also coached with Benedetto at the University of Sioux Falls (2017) and South Dakota (2010-11).

Breske was the linebackers and special teams coach at Sioux Falls (2005-06) when Benedetto played for the Cougars. They won the NAIA National Championship and went 14-0 in 2006.

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Breske’s Coaching Experience

He was the defensive quality control assistant at Washington State in 2022.

He coached inside linebackers (2018-2021) and was the special teams coordinator in 2019 at Idaho. While Breske was there, Vandals defenders earned 11 All-Big Sky Conference honors, and the special teamers were named all-conference six times.

His coaching career began in 2002 as he spent three years on the staff of Central High School in his hometown of Greeley, Colorado.

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