Kalen DeBoer posts tribute to Jeff Tedford after news of health concerns, resignation

Jeff Tedford announced on Monday that he’d be stepping down as the head football coach at Fresno State ahead of the 2024 college football season, citing health concerns as the reason for his decision. Linebackers coach Tim Skipper will now take over the reins of the program as head coach.

Tedford’s first season as the head coach for the Bulldogs was in 2017. While there, he hired current Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer as his offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. There, the two would spend two seasons together before DeBoer would depart to serve in the same role at Indiana.

DeBoer responded to Tedford’s announcement regarding his resignation via Twitter in a heartfelt response that can be seen below.

Blessed to spend 2 amazing years with Coach Tedford and felt I learned something from him everyday! An X and O genius, relentless competitor and so much more! Most importantly, an incredible person and family man who cared so much about his players and staff! Thank you coach! https://t.co/aK07teQZ2l

— Kalen DeBoer (@KalenDeBoer) July 15, 2024

“Blessed to spend 2 amazing years with Coach Tedford and felt I learned something from him everyday!” DeBoer wrote. “An X and O genius, relentless competitor and so much more! Most importantly, an incredible person and family man who cared so much about his players and staff! Thank you coach!”

After DeBoer’s lone season with the Hoosiers in 2019, Tedford stepped away from the Fresno State program due to heart issues after three seasons with the program. This led to the Bulldogs hiring back DeBoer to become the program’s head coach, where DeBoer led Fresno State to a 12–6 and proved himself as an FBS head coach for the first time.

DeBoer would move on to become the next head coach at Washington ahead of the 2022 season and Tedford would be rehired by Fresno State in the same year. Tedford picked up right where he left off three years earlier by leading the Bulldogs to their third 10-win season while at the helm. He followed with a 9-4 finish last year capped off with a dominant New Mexico Bowl win over New Mexico State.

Now DeBoer enters his first season as the head man for the Crimson Tide, a job that comes with high stakes and pressure. While that is DeBoer’s main focus, he still made sure to show respect for a coach who clearly played a prominent role in his head coaching journey. DeBoer and the rest of the football world are hopeful he can get back to full health soon and continue supporting a Fresno State program that he’s become a major part of.

“I look forward to supporting the program in any way that I can as I focus on family and my health. My family and I will forever be grateful for the exciting and wonderful times. We also appreciate the support from the university and the community, and are grateful to have been allowed to be a part of it all,” Tedford wrote to conclude his message to Fresno State.