Coach for Wolverines’ Week 1 opponent steps down ahead of season

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The Wolverines’ first opponent for the upcoming football season will enter The Big House with a new head coach.

Jeff Tedford announced Monday night that he has stepped down as head coach of the Fresno State Bulldogs to deal with health concerns.

According to ESPN , Tedford attended Mountain West media days last week and said that his health was OK. But in a statement posted to social media , Tedford said he and his family made the difficult decision following a recent medical checkup.

“I have a tremendous amount of pride and passion for Fresno State, and I understand the time and energy necessary to lead at a high level,” Tedford said. “The players, coaches and Bulldog supporters deserve the best. Unfortunately, I am not able to sustain the commitment needed to perform at the level needed to guide the program.”

The Fresno State grad has led the Bulldogs for five seasons over two short stints. He first inherited a 1-11 team and went 10-4 in 2017, becoming just the third FBS team to go from double-digit losses to double-digit wins in one season.

Tedford, who had heart surgery years earlier, resigned from the job following the 2019 for health reasons but took it back after Kalen DeBoer left for Washington in 2021. The Bulldogs have gone 19-8 over the last two seasons, including a 9-4 record last year and a win in the New Mexico Bowl.

Linebacker coach and assistant head coach Tim Skipper will serve as the team’s interim head coach for the season.

“We are extremely fortunate to have continuity with a great coaching staff. I have full confidence that they will continue to guide our terrific student-athletes to reach their full potential on and off the field,” Tedford stated.

The Bulldogs and the Wolverines kick off the season on Saturday, Aug. 31 in Ann Arbor. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on WOOD TV8.

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