Jeff Tedford, 55, has been named the next Fresno State head football coach, as announced by Director of Athletics Jim Bartko on Thursday. Tedford is a Fresno State alum and was most recently an offensive consultant for the Washington Huskies.

Tedford will assume the role as the acting head coach at the conclusion of the 2016 season. Interim head coach Eric Kiesau will continue to carry out his duties for the remaining two games.

"Jeff possesses all the qualities we were looking for in a head coach," said Bartko. "First and foremost, integrity, plus a great football mind and the ability to come in and hit the ground running. When you have the opportunity to hire someone who knows this Valley and is Bulldog Born, Bulldog Bred, there is not a better choice.

"I have faith that Jeff is just the ticket to bring back the winning tradition of Fresno State football. He will also be at the forefront of ushering in a new era with our Bulldog Stadium modernization project. I look forward to his leadership, on and off the field."

Tedford, who is a proven winner on the West Coast, comes to the Valley with 11 years of head coaching experience at the Division I level – having led the California Golden Bears to 82 wins from 2002-2012. He left as the school's all-time winningest coach.

Tedford's ties to the Valley and Fresno State run deep. He played quarterback at Fresno State in 1981-82 under Jim Sweeney and coached at Fresno State under Sweeney from 1987-88 and 1992-96, and under a then-first-year head coach Pat Hill in 1997.

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