Michigan football has known for a long time that its 2024 season opener would be against Fresno State under the lights at Michigan Stadium on Aug. 31 at 7:30 p.m., but the head coach will no longer be on the opposing team's sideline as originally expected.
On Monday, the program announced that Jeff Tedford would step down as the Bulldogs' head coach, citing health as the primary reason. Tim Skipper, who served as the program's interim head coach during Tedford's absence from the 2023 Ysleta New Mexico Bowl, has been named interim head coach, effective immediately.
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“It is with sadness that, following a recent medical evaluation and due to health concerns, my family and I have made the decision to step down as head coach at Fresno State and allow someone else to lead the football program,” Thedford said in a statement. “I have great pride and passion for Fresno State and understand the time and energy it takes to lead at a high level.”
“The players, coaches and Bulldog supporters deserve the best. Unfortunately, I am not able to maintain the commitment to perform at the level necessary to lead the program.”
Thedford, 62, compiled a career record of 44-22 in five seasons over two stints at FSU. During his tenure, he led the Bulldogs to three 10-win seasons (2017, 2018, 2022), won two Mountain West championships, three West Division titles, four bowl games and led the team to top-25 finishes twice.
Tedford has a career record of 127-79, including an 11-year stint at UC (2002-2012) where he was the school's winningest coach in school history (82 wins). In 2018, he was a finalist for the Bear Bryant Coach of the Year Award after Fresno State set a school record with 12 wins.
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“Coach Tedford is a living legend,” Skipper said in a statement. “He is undoubtedly an innovator and trendsetter for the game, and his impact on college football will be felt forever. I have been so fortunate to have had the opportunity to coach his staff these past two seasons, and the knowledge I have gained is invaluable. I look forward to leading Bulldog football next season, carrying on the pride and tradition of Fresno State and making the Red Wave proud.”
Thedford has won Coach of the Year awards three times, in the Pac-10 in 2002 and 2004 and the Mountain West in 2017, and his 9-3 record overall in bowl games is third-best in NCAA Division I football history among coaches with at least 10 postseason appearances.
Skipper played middle linebacker for four years (1997-2000) at Fresno State, where he was a two-time captain and a two-time Butkus Award nominee. He still ranks second in school history in tackles (418), including 117 tackles during his freshman season in which he was named All-America.
“I plan to continue supporting this program in any way I can while also focusing on my family and my own health,” Thedford said. “My family and I will be forever grateful for this exciting and wonderful time. We are also grateful for the support from the university and the community and are thankful to have been a part of it all.”
Fresno State was picked to be No. 3 in the preseason Mountain West poll during last week's media day (which Tedford attended). The school returns eight stars on offense and six on defense and has several players enter the portal, including former five-star defensive end Corey Foreman, who played at USC.
