Fresno State is focusing on USC assistant and former North Dakota State coach Matt Entz to be its subsequent head coach, sources verify to CBS Sports activities’ Richard Johnson and Brandon Marcello. Entz follows Jeff Tedford, who resigned earlier than the season resulting from well being points.
Entz labored his method by the small school ranks at Northern Iowa primarily earlier than touchdown at North Dakota State as defensive coordinator underneath Chris Klieman. When Klieman left for Kansas State, NDSU promoted Entz, who received two nationwide championships (2019, 2021) in his first three seasons as a part of a run of 9 titles in 11 years for the Bison.
NDSU went 23-7 in his subsequent two seasons, nevertheless, marking probably the most losses in a two-year interval since 2010. Entz in the end determined to go away North Dakota State for USC to function affiliate head coach, linebackers coach and head coach of the protection. In his first season, the Trojans jumped from No. 119 to 70 in complete protection.
Now, Entz prepares to hitch a proud Fresno State program that received 29 video games in Tedford’s closing three seasons and has 4 10-win seasons since 2017. Nevertheless, this system went solely 6-6 in 2024 underneath interim coach Tim Skipper, a former Fresno State linebacker. Star quarterback Mikey Keene entered the switch portal on Tuesday.
Entz’s rent continues a pattern of former small school coaches getting alternatives on the subsequent stage. Final season, Nevada employed former Montana State coach and Texas co-DC Jeff Choate. Temple employed Ok.C. Keeler, who upset Entz’s NDSU en path to the spring 2021 nationwide championship at Sam Houston. Ball State’s Mike Uremovich (Butler) and Rice’s Scott Abell (Davidson) additionally got here from the FCS ranks this cycle.
Each Craig Bohl and Klieman had profitable runs on the FBS stage after coming into by way of NDSU. Klieman led the Wildcats to their first outright Massive 12 title since 2003 and has received not less than eight video games in each non-pandemic season. Bohl led Wyoming to a program file 61 wins in two seasons and their first division title since Joe Tiller in 1996.
