Tedford announces coaching staff

FRESNO, Calif. - With the 2021 Bulldog football season officially wrapped up, Fresno State head coach Jeff Tedford announced his coaching staff on Thursday. Tedford, who is leading the program in his second stint as head coach, revealed nine coaches on his staff - many of which are familiar faces to the Bulldog football program. The 10th coach will be announced at a later date.

Tedford retained three members from the 2021 staff in Kirby Moore, J.D. Williams and Roman Sapolu. All three staffers coached under Tedford in his first tenure as head coach.

The Bulldog ties on this staff run deeper than just 2017, as eight (including Tedford) of the announced coaches have previously coached at Fresno State at one point in their careers. The entire defensive side of the ball coached together under Pat Hill in the late 90's.

Notably, Tedford (OC), Kevin Coyle (DC) and John Baxter (ST) were all coordinators at Fresno State under Coach Hill. Tedford also coached under Jim Sweeney alongside Jethro Franklin as offensive coordinator while Franklin led the defensive line.

Four members of the coaching staff are Fresno State alums, including Tedford. Joining Tedford as alumni are Franklin (DL), Williams (DB) and Tim Skipper (LB).

Only one staffer in Thursday's announcement does not have prior ties to Fresno State, or to Jeff Tedford.

The staff has a combined 193 years of collegiate coaching experience and 36 years of professional football coaching experience.

"This staff has extensive experience and history here at Fresno State, and across the country at the highest level of college football and the NFL,'' said Tedford on his staff. "They appreciate the pride and tradition of Bulldog football, the Red Wave, and the Valley. Not only are they excellent coaches and teachers of the game, but they are quality people who will care about our student-athletes on and off the field, and a group who will continue to develop our team into a championship-level program."

Kirby Moore - Offensive Coordinator
Tedford promoted Kirby Moore to offensive coordinator. Moore, who joined the Fresno State staff initially under Tedford in 2017, has served as the team's wide receivers coach the past five seasons. Moore added the additional title of pass game coordinator in 2020.

Tedford hired Moore in his first full-time assistant coach position, and he proved from the start that he was a great fit. In each of his first two seasons, Moore was named to the annual 247Sports.com 30-under-30 lists as one of college football's rising stars.

In 2021, the Bulldogs amassed over 4,000 yards through the air for just the fourth time in program history, totaling 4,247 yards on the year. The Bulldogs were led by three all-conference selections in Jalen Cropper (second team), Josh Kelly (honorable mention) and Keric Wheatfall (honorable mention). It was the first time since 2013 that three Bulldog receivers earned postseason honors by the Mountain West in a season.

Moore had his first taste of play-calling experience at the 2021 PUBG New Mexico Bowl, leading the Bulldogs to a 31-24 win over UTEP, securing the 10th win of the season. The Bulldogs produced 467 yards of total offense - 181 rushing and 286 passing.

Moore, a native of Prosser, Wash., is a graduate of Boise State where he was a wide receiver from 2009-13.

The Kirby Moore file.

Kevin Coyle - Defensive Coordinator
Kevin Coyle joins the Fresno State coaching staff as its defensive coordinator, after most recently serving as a senior defensive analyst at LSU. Coyle joined the LSU staff as an analyst in 2018, and was a part of the 2019 National Championship team.

Coyle had spent nearly 20 years in the NFL as either a defensive backs coach or defensive coordinator. Most recently, he had been the defensive coordinator of the Miami Dolphins from 2012-15, then spent two seasons as the defensive backs coach in his second tenure with the Cincinnati Bengals (2016-17). Coyle's longest NFL coaching stint was from 2001-11 in his first term with the Bengals. Coyle has coached several Pro-Bowl athletes and had notable success with NFL defensive backs, many of which have approached franchise records for interceptions individually and as a group.

Coyle has previous college coaching stops at LSU, Maryland, Fresno State, Syracuse and Holy Cross. Was a graduate assistant at Cincinnati (1978-79) in his early career, and a coaching assistant at Arkansas following the completion of his graduate assistantship (1980). Coyle coached as the Bulldogs' defensive coordinator under Pat Hill from 1997-2000.

Coyle is a native of Staten Island, N.Y. and played collegiately at UMass. Coyle earned a bachelor's degree in physical education from UMass in 1978, and a master's degree in education from Cincinnati in 1979.

The Kevin Coyle file.

John Baxter - Special Teams Coordinator/Associate Head Coach
John Baxter joins the Fresno State coaching staff as its special teams coordinator and associate head coach, after most recently coaching the special teams and tight ends at USC from 2016-19.

Baxter has an extensive coaching resume with stops at Iowa State (1986-87), Arizona (1988, 1990-91), Maine (1989), Maryland (1992-93),Tulane (1994-1996), Fresno State (1997-09), USC (2010-13, 2016-18) and Michigan (2015). Baxter has experience coaching special teams, tight ends, wide receivers, running backs, linebackers, defensive backs and the defensive line.

Not only does Baxter bring a wealth of knowledge and experience in the game of football, he also developed the highly-successful and nationally-regarded program, "Academic Gameplan." His innovative and comprehensive study-skills program teaches students the rules, fundamentals, techniques and life skills needed to succeed in the classroom. "Academic Gameplan," which is now being used at schools throughout the country, was a key reason for the academic success of the Fresno State football program, which during Baxter's first tenure produced 141 Academic All-WAC players and an NCAA APR score nearly 20 percentage points higher than the national average.

Baxter coached at Fresno State under Pat Hill (1997-09), serving as the Bulldogs' Associate Head Coach, along with special teams leadership, and tight ends and wide receivers position group coaching. Baxter spent 13 seasons building a reputation for some of the most consistent and potent special teams play in the nation while with the program. During his time at Fresno State, the Bulldogs posted a 100-66 record, played in 10 bowls (1999 Las Vegas, 2000-01-02-03 Silicon Valley, 2004 MPC Computers, 2005 AutoZone Liberty, 2007 Roady's Humanitarian and 2008-09 New Mexico) and won the WAC title in 1999.

A native of Chicago, Ill., Baxter earned his bachelor's degree from Loras College in 1985 and his master's in higher education from Iowa State in 1987.

The John Baxter file.

Offensive Position Groups
Pat McCann - Wide Receivers/Pass Game Coordinator
Pat McCann joins the Bulldogs coaching staff from Eastern Washington, where he also served as the wide receivers coach for the Eagles, along with pass game coordinator duties. He was with EWU for three seasons.

McCann coached up all-conference and all-american wide receivers at Eastern Washington. As a recruiter, McCann helped get the Eagles the No. 1 recruiting class in the Big Sky and No. 2 in the FCS in 2019. An exciting note for the Valley, McCann finds himself familiar with local talent in and around Fresno as the Central Valley was one of his assigned recruiting areas while at Eastern Washington.

He spent the 2017 and 2018 seasons as the wide receivers coach at Northern Iowa. While at Northern Iowa, he coached a first team all-conference selection in Daurice Fountain who went on to be drafted in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Prior to that, McCann spent four seasons at UC Davis, coaching the receivers (2013-16). He had his first coaching experience at Stonehill College (Easton, Mass.) where he coached the receivers, was the special teams coordinator and video coordinator for four years.

As a collegiate athlete himself, he was a first team all-conference wide receiver at Western Washington. He graduated from Western Washington with a bachelor's degree in exercise and sport science with a sport psychology emphasis in 2009 and went on to earn his master's in leadership studies in 2011 from Grand Canyon University.

McCann is the only staffer with no prior ties to Fresno State or to Tedford.

The Pat McCann file.

James Montgomery - Running Backs/Recruiting Coordinator
James Montgomery joins the Bulldog staff from Cal Poly where he was the Mustangs' running backs coach and recruiting coordinator from 2020-21.

Prior to his stint with the Mustangs, Montgomery spent six seasons at Sacramento State where he was an offensive assistant for the Hornets from 2014-15, and was promoted to running backs coach in 2016. He added the title of recruiting coordinator in 2018.

Montgomery got his collegiate coaching career started as a quality control at Weber State in 2013.

Montgomery began his collegiate playing career under Coach Tedford at Cal in 2006. He then transferred to Washington State, where he played from 2008-10. He graduated with his bachelor's degree in social science in 2011.

After earning his degree, Montgomery returned to Sacramento and was an assistant coach at Del Campo HS before jumping into the collegiate coaching realm.

The James Montgomery file.

Roman Sapolu - Tight Ends
Roman Sapolu is one of three coaches who will remain on staff from the 2021 season.

Different for Sapolu moving forward is he will be coaching the tight ends, rather than the offensive line which he coached for the Bulldogs since 2019. Originally hired by Tedford in 2019 as the team's assistant offensive line coach, Sapolu took over complete control of the OL in 2020 under Kalen DeBoer. He was also tasked with the duties of run game coordinator under DeBoer.

Sapolu has been a promising young coach early in his career, earning recognition by 247Sports in its 30-under-30 list in 2020, deeming him a rising star in the coaching profession.

During the summer of 2018, Sapolu was a participant in the prestigious National Football League's Minority Coaching Fellowship with the San Francisco 49ers, working with the offensive line.

Sapolu earned his first full-time assistant coaching position at Idaho State in 2018. In his sole season, the Bengal offense tallied 5,403 total yards, the third most since their 1981 National Championship season. That season's squad saw eight offensive players earn all-conference honors.

After Sapolu's playing career at Oregon State was cut short to injury, he began his coaching career at Nebraska. There he was a graduate assistant for three seasons (2015-17) for NU's offensive line. He played on the Beavers' offensive line from 2010-14.

Sapolu is the son of Jesse Sapolu, a four-time Super Bowl Champion during a long NFL career with the San Francisco 49ers from 1983-97.

The Roman Sapolu file.

Defensive Position Groups
Jethro Franklin - Defensive Line/Defensive Run Game Coordinator
Jethro Franklin joins the Bulldog football program as the team's defensive line coach, coming to Fresno from Mizzou where he spent the 2021 season.

Franklin, a Fresno State alum and former Bulldog coach, comes back to the Valley with 30 years of collegiate and professional coaching experience under his belt. Having coached 17 years of college football and 13 in the NFL, Franklin brings a wealth of valuable experience to the Bulldog defense. He has coached in eight bowl games and seven NFL playoff appearances throughout his career.

He has had college coaching stints with Fresno State, UCLA, USC, Temple, Miami, and Missouri, and NFL coaching experience with the Oakland Raiders, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Houston Texans, and the Green Bay Packers. His most recent professional football stops include the Oakland Raiders (2015-17) and Seattle Seahawks (2018-19). Franklin has helped lead three NFL teams to seven playoff appearances and three FBS teams to seven bowl games in his illustrious coaching career.

Franklin coached at Fresno State under Pat Hill (1991-98). While a coach for the 'Dogs, Fresno State made three bowl game appearances - 1991 California, 1992 Freedom and 1993 Aloha Bowl.
His collegiate playing career began at San Jose City College (1984-85) where he was named a 1985 NJCAA All-American. He then moved on to Fresno State (1986-87), where he set the school record for sacks (19.5) in 1986 and was named the 1987 Pacific Coast Conference Player of the Year.
After being drafted by the Houston Oilers in 1988, he spent the 1989 season playing defensive line for the Seattle Seahawks. He then was the No. 1 draft choice of the San Antonio Rough Riders of the World League of American Football in 1991, but instead opted to begin his coaching career.
Franklin graduated from Fresno State with a degree in criminology in 1988.

The Jethro Franklin file.

Tim Skipper - Linebackers/Assistant Head Coach
Tim Skipper joins the Bulldog staff for his second stint as a Bulldogs' coach, coming to Fresno from Central Michigan where he coached the linebackers for the last two seasons.

Skipper is no stranger to the Mountain West, having coaching stops at UNLV and Colorado State in his career. He is also no stranger to the Bulldog football program, as he coached under Pat Hill from 2006-11, and was a star linebacker for the 'Dogs from 1997-2000.

Skipper has coached on both sides of the ball in his career, working with linebackers, defensive backs and running backs. At each stop he has made, Skipper has produced all-conference caliber athletes, some of which broke program and conference records. Many of Skipper's athletes went on to have professional playing careers.

In his last stint as a Bulldog assistant coach, the 'Dogs advanced to four bowl games in Skipper's six seasons in Fresno, largely due to his development of all-conference linebackers Ben Jacobs and Travis Brown, and explosive running backs Ryan Mathews, Dwayne Wright, Lonyae Miller and Clifton Smith. Eight Bulldogs coached by Skipper were drafted, or signed as an undrafted free agent, during his tenure - three were linebackers and five were running backs.

A four-year starter at Fresno State at middle linebacker from 1997-2000, he earned an appearance on both the 1999 and 2000 watch lists of the Butkus Award, presented annually to the nation's top linebacker. A two-year defensive captain and three-time All-WAC selection, he ranks second in school history with 418 career tackles, including 117 in his first campaign, when he earned freshman All-America recognition. Voted the team's most inspirational player as a senior in 2000.

Originally from New Orleans, La., Skipper graduated with a degree in communications from Fresno State in 2001.

The Tim Skipper file.

J.D. Williams - Defensive Backs/Defensive Pass Game Coordinator
J.D. Williams remains on staff under Tedford, but switches back to coaching the entire secondary as opposed to only cornerbacks that he coached the last two seasons. The former cornerback, who is one of five first round NFL draft picks in Fresno State program history, oversaw both the cornerbacks and safeties his first three seasons upon his initial return with former head coach Jeff Tedford (2017).

Williams is a familiar staffer under Tedford, having coached with him at Cal (2002-05) and at Fresno State (2000-01, 2017-19). Since 2017, Williams has produced a secondary unit that sat among the top of the conference and in the FBS. In 2021, the Bulldog cornerbacks had depth in the position group. Senior DaRon Bland led the group with 45 tackles, two interceptions, five broken up passes, one quarterback hurry and one forced fumble. Notably, Williams coached up true freshman cornerback Cale Sanders Jr. as one of the top-graded CBs in the conference. Sanders played in all 13 games this season, and earned the start in the final four games of the year.

A wide receiver turned cornerback at Fresno State from 1986-89, was selected in the first round of the NFL Draft (16th overall by the Buffalo Bills, 1990). Williams was an AP honorable mention All-American in 1988, a second-team Sporting News All-American, and a third-team AP All-American in 1989. In addition to being named an All-American, he was a two-time all-Big West first-team selection and the Defensive MVP of the East-West Shrine game.

During his seven-year professional career, he was a member of all four Bills' teams that advanced to the Super Bowl from 1991-94. In 2002, he was inducted into the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame.

The J.D. Williams file.

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Tedford announces coaching staff

Players Mentioned

DaRon Bland

Josh Kelly

Jalen Moreno-Cropper

Cale Sanders Jr.

Keric Wheatfall

Fresno State Athletics

Tedford announces coaching staff

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Players Mentioned

DaRon Bland

Josh Kelly

Jalen Moreno-Cropper

Cale Sanders Jr.

Keric Wheatfall

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