Fresno State created special roles for two former coaches. One deal is much bigger

Former Fresno State football coach Jeff Tedford, who stepped away due to heart-related health issues earlier this month, will serve as a special assistant to the athletics department for a brief period, according to an agreement released by the university on Monday through a public records request.

Tedford, who won 44 games in five seasons at his alma mater with two Mountain West Conference championships and three bowl victories, will receive $27,500 per month for about 3 1/2 months through Nov. 2 and benefits through the end of November.

That amount is less than half what Fresno State is paying former basketball coach Justin Hutson, who as the only Black head coach on campus made claims of racial discrimination against university officials in his final season. The claims were investigated and found to be baseless. Hutson, who finished his tenure 92-94 in six seasons and did not finish in the top five in the 11-team conference in his final five seasons, has been serving as a special assistant since his contract expired at the end of April.

He receives $48,200 per month plus benefits for five months, through Sept. 30.

University officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the special assignments or the compensation packages for the former coaches. The parties agreed to cooperate when making any public statements or responses to public inquiries regarding the agreement or Tedford’s status with the university.

The Tedford agreement was signed by university vice president of administration Debbie Adishian-Astone on July 2 and president Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval on July 3. Tedford announced that he was stepping away from coaching on July 15 and the agreement went into effect on July 20.

Tedford, who had three seasons remaining on his contract, declined to comment when contacted by The Bee.

While compiling a higher winning percentage (.667) higher than Fresno State legends Jim Sweeney (.654) and Pat Hill (.583), who last season were inducted into the athletics department’s Ring of Honor, Tedford also twice made college football history coaching the Bulldogs. He became the first coach to inherit a one-win team and take it to 10 or more victories in each of the next two seasons, going 10-4 in 2017 and 12-2 in 2018. And, in 2022, he became the first coach to rally a team off to a 1-4 start and finish with 10 or more victories, going 10-4.

Under terms of the agreement, Tedford will provide assistance and advice to athletics director Garrett Klassy and interim head coach Tim Skipper regarding the football program, including assistance related to the recruitment and retention of student-athletes, academic and program compliance, fundraising, promotional activities on behalf of the athletics department and other matters related to the program.

If he were to accept outside employment elsewhere during the term of the agreement, he will be deemed to have resigned his position as a special assistant to the athletics department.

That is similar to the language in the university’s agreement with Hutson.

The Oakland-based Oppenheimer Investigations Group investigated the claims of racial discrimination made by the Bulldogs’ former basketball coach, which were tied to financial support of the basketball program. It concluded in April that Hutson was not discriminated against.