Fresno State hired Southern California assistant head coach Matt Entz as its new head coach on Wednesday.
Entz guided FCS power North Dakota State to two national championships before joining the USC staff after last season.
“I am deeply honored to join the Fresno State family as the head football coach,” Entz said in the school’s announcement. “This University’s rich tradition of excellence, both on and off the field, aligns perfectly with my values and coaching philosophy.”
Entz, 52, went 60-11 from 2019-23 at North Dakota State. The Bison were national champions in 2019 and 2021.
“Matt Entz is a proven winner with a championship pedigree, consistently leading his teams to success on the field,” Fresno State athletic director Garrett Klassy. “He is a leader of people who values growth both on and off the field. Beyond his impressive football accomplishments, Matt and his family embody the core values of integrity, grit, hard work, and selflessness that define what it means to be a Bulldog.”
Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley said Entz represents a big loss to his coaching staff.
“When you have a really quality staff, and you have really good people on your staff, you’re gonna have guys that get opportunities to move on, and I think we’re happy for Coach Entz first,” Riley told reporters Wednesday. “College football head-coaching jobs are really, really hard to get, and I think it’s always a sign of a healthy program, where programs are wanting to come in and hire your people, particularly for head-coaching roles.
“He did a great job for us, made us better, made me better, was a great hire, a big part of what was one of the most, statistically, improved defenses in the country. I wish he and (his wife) Brenda the best.”
At USC, Entz was linebackers coach in addition to his assistant head coach duties of overseeing the defense.
Entz replaces Tim Skipper, who guided Fresno State to a 6-6 record (4-3 Mountain West) this season as the interim coach. Skipper took over after Jeff Tedford exited in mid-July due to health concerns.
Fresno State is slated to move into the Pac-12 for the 2026 season.
