News

FRESNO -  Bob Bennett, Fresno State Baseball's winningest head coach, passed away on Sunday morning at the age of 86.  Completing a 34-year head coaching career at Fresno State in 2002, Bennett racked up 1,302 career wins at Fresno State as he became the seventh coach in NCAA history to reach 1,300 wins. He ended his career with 26 consecutive winning seasons.
 
"Our prayers go out to the Bennett family," current head coach Mike Batesole said. "Rest in peace to the greatest coach our Valley will ever see, [his] name on the stadium says it all."

FRESNO – The search for Jeff Tedford's successor did not take long, nor did it break away from the continuity and foundation that has been built for Bulldog football as Fresno State director of athletics Terry Tumey named Kalen DeBoer head coach on Tuesday. He is the 20th head coach in the program's history.

"When I think about opportunities and places I want to coach, as soon as I stepped on this campus, I was like this is a place that I can love coaching at," said DeBoer at Tuesday's introductory press conference. "When I left I was hoping that one day this opportunity would come around."

OAKLAND - Last week, Raiders quarterback, Central Valley native and Valley Children’s advocate Derek Carr unveiled a specially designed set of cleats as part of an NFL initiative called “My Cause, My Cleats.” The initiative gives NFL players the opportunity to raise awareness for a cause of their choosing by wearing the cleats on game day. The cleats are then auctioned off at NFL Auction; 100% of the funds raised are donated to the players’ chosen charities.

Derek’s cleats featured the Valley Children’s logo along with a design created by his son Dallas. Born in 2013, Dallas spent 23 days at Valley Children’s after he was born with intestinal malrotation – a threatening congenital anomaly that can cut blood supply to the intestinal tract. Dallas is now a happy and healthy boy! 

FRESNO - Jeff Tedford announced on Friday morning that he will resign as the head football coach for Fresno State, effective immediately. However, the Bulldog alum will remain a part of the program he has such a long history with - as a player, an assistant coach and head coach - as a special assistant to the director of athletics Terry Tumey.

"I am announcing today that I need to step down as the head coach," said Tedford. "I've had some recent medical situations and concerns that has really been going on since midseason.

FRESNO -  Paul George, a six-time NBA All-Star and 2016 Olympic gold medalist, will have his #24 jersey retired during the Fresno State men's basketball team's Nov. 10 regular-season home opener, Fresno State Director of Athletics Terry Tumey announced on Wednesday.

"We are proud to honor Paul George for his exemplary contributions to the game of basketball, both while competing as a student-athlete at Fresno State and during his illustrious ongoing career in the NBA," Tumey said. "One of our goals as a Department is to connect our rich tradition with our promising future by honoring the legends of our past appropriately. There will be more recognition to come, as we have so many great former Bulldogs out there, but this particular opportunity is all about celebrating Paul George and his wonderful achievements."

FRESNO - Fresno State Athletics, in conjunction with KAIL-TV Fresno, announced on Monday a broadcast package that will bring the football, men's basketball and women's basketball teams to its over-the air network during the 2019-20 season.

It kicks off with this Saturday's football game when the 'Dogs travel to the Islands to face Hawai'i in a pivotal Mountain West conference game. The contest begins at 9 p.m. PT (6 p.m. local).