Fresno State hires former FCS championship coach Matt Entz

Fresno StatehiredUSC assistant head coach and linebackers coach Matt Entz to be the program's next head coach, the school announced Wednesday.

Sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel earlier in the day that Fresno State was working toward a five-year deal with Entz.

"Matt Entz is a proven winner with a championship pedigree, consistently leading his teams to success on the field," athletic director Garrett Klassy said in a statement. "He is a leader of people who values growth both on and off the field."

Entz, who was hired by USC last offseason as part of the Trojans' defensive restructuring, was the head coach at North Dakota State from 2019 to 2023 where he went 60-10 and won two FCS national championships.

The two-time FCS coach of the year will replace Fresno State's interim head coach Tim Skipper. Skipper took over the position in July after Jeff Tedford announced he was stepping down because of health concerns.

Before taking over as the coach at NDSU, Entz was the program's defensive coordinator under Chris Klieman. Entz was promoted to head coach in 2019 when Klieman left for Kansas State's head-coaching position.

Entz began his career at Illinois College in 1998 as a defensive coordinator. He then worked his way through the small college ranks, making stops at Wayne State, Winona State, Northern Iowa and Western Illinois before landing at NDSU.

Entz's move from FCS to an assistant position at the FBS level last season was seen as a precursor to him potentially getting a Division I head-coaching job.

The Bulldogs won 29 games in Tedford's three seasons there and went 6-6 this season under Skipper.

Fresno State is set to join the new Pac-12 in 2026.