New Fresno State Football Coach Matt Entz Addresses the Elephant in the Room
Fresno State introduced Matt Entz as its new football coach on Thursday, and he immediately addressed the awkward situation surrounding his hiring. Entz replaces popular alum Ti Skipper, who had served as interim coach. Many players supported Skipper, and over a dozen have entered the NCAA transfer portal. Entz expressed empathy and acknowledged the unique circumstances.
Entz, the former North Dakota State head coach, recognized the players’ skepticism. “They’ve had three different people stand at the front of the room and say, ‘This is the plan moving forward,'” Entz said. “I surely can understand why they would be like, ‘Why you?’ My point to them and my point to Bulldog Nation is I have a plan in place.” Entz plans to meet individually with players, including those in the transfer portal.
The exodus of players includes quarterback Mikey Keene, wideouts Jalen Moss and Raylen Sharpe, and defensive tackles Gavriel Lightfoot and Jacob Holmes. Entz aims to be proactive in connecting with players and discussing his vision. “You need to discuss staffing and talk about the experience they’ve already had here, and build on it,” Entz said. “They’re all looking for, ‘How is this going to help me?'”
Entz will also meet with assistant coaches as he assembles his staff. Skipper will coach Fresno State in its upcoming bowl game. Entz signed a five-year contract worth $1.1 million in the first year, increasing to $1.7 million in the final year. Athletics Director Garrett Klassy emphasized the importance of head-coaching experience in the hiring process.
Entz outlined his offensive and defensive philosophies. “I want to be able to run the football,” he said. “If we can be that dominant line of scrimmage team and control the clock, you have a great opportunity to win games.” On defense, Entz expressed flexibility, depending on recruiting and weekly matchups.
Entz boasts an impressive résumé, having led North Dakota State to two national championships. He was 60-11 in five seasons, including a 16-0 season in 2019. Entz coached seven NFL draft picks, including quarterback Trey Lance. Fresno State, by comparison, has had five players selected in the past five drafts.
Entz may face a culture shock upon inspecting Fresno State’s football facilities. North Dakota State boasts a state-of-the-art practice facility with two artificial turf fields. Fresno State practices on grass in a former ponding basin. Entz, however, is eager to be part of the Bulldogs’ tradition. “I look forward to being part of this great football tradition and program,” Entz said.