If you’ve followed Valley football for more than five minutes, you know the vibe at Valley Children’s Stadium is basically religious. People don't just "watch" the Bulldogs; they live and die by every snap. So, when Jeff Tedford—the hometown hero who basically saved the program twice—had to step away for health reasons in 2024, the air in Fresno got pretty heavy.
Enter Matt Entz.
The hiring of a new Fresno State head coach football lead is never just a transaction. It's a vibe check for the entire community. And honestly, picking a guy with two FCS National Championships under his belt from North Dakota State (NDSU) was a massive statement.
The Road to the Central Valley
Matt Entz didn't just fall into this job. He earned it through a grind that’s honestly exhausting to look at on paper. We’re talking about a guy who spent years in the trenches of the Midwest, coaching everything from the defensive line to linebackers at places like Winona State and Northern Iowa.
But the real magic happened in Fargo.
At NDSU, he wasn't just a coach; he was the architect of a literal dynasty. He went 60-11. Think about that for a second. An .857 winning percentage is basically video game numbers. He won titles in 2019 and 2021, proving he knows how to handle the pressure of "championship or bust" expectations.
Then, he did something that confused a lot of people: he took a "demotion." He left the head coaching chair at NDSU to be an assistant at USC under Lincoln Riley. Some folks thought he was crazy. But if you look at it through the lens of a guy wanting to master the West Coast recruiting trail and see how the Big Ten/Big West landscape works, it was a genius chess move.
Why the Entz Hire Matters Right Now
Fresno State isn't just another Mountain West school. It's a program that expects to beat P5 (now P4) teams regularly. The fans want blood when UCLA or Arizona comes to town.
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Entz brings a specific "Bison" mentality—toughness, gap integrity, and a soul-crushing run game—that fits the 559 perfectly. He's not a "flashy" hire in the sense of a high-flying Air Raid guru, but he’s exactly what a program needs when it’s transitioning into the new era of college football.
Life After the Tedford Era
We have to talk about Jeff Tedford. You can't understand the current state of the Fresno State head coach football position without acknowledging the giant shadow he leaves. Tedford was the "Quarterback Whisperer." He developed Derek Carr (well, assisted in the legacy) and turned the program around from a 1-11 disaster to a Mountain West champion.
When Tim Skipper took over as the interim in 2024, he did a hell of a job keeping the ship upright. Skipper is "Bulldog Born, Bulldog Bred." He led the team to a bowl win and kept the locker room from imploding.
But the university knew they needed a long-term fix.
Garrett Klassy, the AD, didn't want a "placeholder." He wanted a builder. By hiring Entz, Fresno State signaled that they aren't just trying to win the Mountain West; they're trying to be the highest-ranked G5 (Group of Five) team in the playoff era.
The Defensive Shift
If you're a fan of old-school, "hit-you-in-the-mouth" football, you’re going to love the Matt Entz era.
- He hired Nick Benedetto from Northern Illinois as his defensive coordinator.
- The focus has shifted back to a "Purple People Eater" style of aggressive front-seven play.
- They are recruiting bigger, beefier interior linemen.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a departure from the high-finesse offenses we saw at times under previous regimes. Entz wants to win the fourth quarter by being the more physical team. Period.
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Breaking Down the "Valley" Philosophy
What most people get wrong about coaching at Fresno State is thinking it’s just about the X’s and O’s. It’s not. It’s about the "Red Wave."
The fans here can smell a fake from a mile away. If a coach doesn't embrace the agricultural roots, the heat, and the "us against the world" chip on the shoulder, they won't last. Entz seems to get that. He comes from a place (North Dakota) where people work with their hands and don't care about glitz.
That translates.
He’s been hitting the recruiting trail hard in the Central Valley, making sure the best talent from Clovis, Central High, and Edison stays home. You've gotta keep the local stars in the red jersey if you want to stay relevant.
The Brian Ferentz Factor
One of the more interesting moves Entz made was bringing in Brian Ferentz to coach tight ends. Yeah, that Brian Ferentz. The former Iowa OC has been a lightning rod for criticism, but as a position coach and a guy who knows how to coach physical, Big Ten-style football? It’s a low-key smart move.
It shows Entz is building a staff of "vets" who have seen the highest levels of the game. He's not interested in hiring his buddies; he's hiring guys who have been in the fire.
What to Expect in 2026 and Beyond
The schedule isn't getting any easier. With the landscape of college football shifting every week due to conference realignment and the transfer portal, the Fresno State head coach football role is harder than ever.
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You’re basically a GM now.
Entz has to manage the NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) collective while making sure his players don't get poached by bigger schools with deeper pockets. It’s a balancing act. Fortunately, the "Bulldog Foundation" is one of the more organized groups in the G5.
The Realistic Outlook
Don't expect a 12-0 season in Year 1 or 2. That’s just not how this works. Entz is installing a new culture. There will be growing pains. There will be games where the offense looks a bit clunky as they find their identity.
But the floor for this team is much higher now.
Entz doesn't lose to teams he's supposed to beat. That was the hallmark of his time at NDSU. If Fresno State can combine that consistency with their traditional "giant-killer" mentality, the rest of the Mountain West is in serious trouble.
Summary of Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're looking to keep up with the progress of the program under Matt Entz, here's what you should actually be watching:
- Monitor the Trenches: Look at the recruiting classes for 2026 and 2027. If Entz is landing 300-pounders from the Valley and the Inland Empire, his plan is working.
- Spring Game Intensity: Pay attention to the defensive aggression. Entz teams are known for being "assignment sound." If you see fewer blown coverages, that's the Entz effect.
- NIL Support: If you want the Bulldogs to compete with the "big boys," the local business community has to stay involved. Entz has been very vocal about the importance of the collective.
- The "Skipper" Connection: Watch how Entz utilizes the guys who stayed. Keeping coaches like J.D. Williams and John Baxter was crucial for continuity.
The Matt Entz era isn't about reinventing the wheel. It's about putting a bigger, tougher set of tires on the truck. The Bulldogs have the history and the fan base; now they have a coach who knows exactly what a trophy feels like.
Go 'Dogs.
Next Steps:
To stay ahead of the curve, you should track the official Fresno State Athletics "Staff Directory" for any late-cycle analyst hires, as Entz has a history of bringing in high-level "consultants" during the summer months. Additionally, keep an eye on the transfer portal windows in May; Entz’s strategy has historically focused on finding "culture fits" rather than just the highest-rated recruits. Check the latest scholarship numbers to see how many spots are being reserved for late-summer additions.