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Jeff Tedford steps down at Fresno State after 3 seasons at alma mater

Fresno State coach Jeff Tedford has stepped down after three seasons at his alma mater.

"It is with a heavy heart that, today, I am announcing that I am stepping down as the head coach here at Fresno State," Tedford said Friday in a statement. "I have been coaching for 30 years and it has been awesome. I have been playing since I was 8 years old, so I have been in this business for about 50 years now. It is time now to focus on my health and my family."

Tedford, 58, went 22-6 in his first two seasons at Fresno State, with a No. 18 finish in the final Associated Press poll in 2018. He led Fresno State to a 10-4 mark in his first season, completing the nation's biggest turnaround, after the Bulldogs went 1-11 in 2016.

The Bulldogs went 4-8 this season.

Tedford made his mark at Cal, going 82-57 in 11 seasons with eight bowl appearances and three Top 25 finishes. While serving as Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator in 2014, Tedford experienced heart problems before a preseason game. He underwent surgery and took an indefinite medical leave before being released from his contract that December.

Tedford spent the 2015 season as head coach of the BC Lions in the CFL and spent 2016 as an off-field assistant at the University of Washington before taking the Fresno State job.