Fresno State extends contract of defensive coordinator, increases pool for assistant salaries

After winning a Mountain West Conference championship in 2022, Fresno State defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle received a contract extension through 2024 and a solid bump in pay — and the athletics department added more than $125,000 into its salary pool for its assistants, with each returning on-field coach receiving a raise

“Coach Coyle, he’s a seasoned veteran and brings a lot of stability, more than just on the field, to our program,” athletics director Terry Tumey said on Wednesday, at the Mountain West Conference media days. “I think Coach (Jeff) Tedford really appreciates and relies on his leadership, just like he does with Jethro Franklin, just as he does with coach (Tim) Skipper, just as he does with J.D. (Williams).

“These guys are all vested; they’re all Bulldogs. It means a lot. Our special teams coach, he’s special. (John) Baxter is amazing. He’s legendary not only in terms of what he does for our program, but what he does in our community. Having those pieces is vitally important.”

Under Coyle, the Fresno State defense allowed just 19.4 points per game a year ago, ending a championship season on a big-time roll. In a nine-game winning streak to end the season the Bulldogs allowed just 306.6 yards per game, 4.8 yards per play and 14.0 points per game.

They could be better this season with linebackers Levelle Bailey and Malachi Langley returning, depth along the interior defensive line and off the edge and perhaps the best cornerback duo in the Mountain West in Carlton Johnson and Cam Lockridge.

Fresno State was picked to finish third in the conference in a preseason media poll.

Coyle, who had a two-year contract worth $350,000 a year, will now be paid $380,748 this season and $395,748 in 2024, according to a contract that was obtained from the university through a public records request.

Offensive coordinator Pat McCann, who was Fresno State’s wideouts coach last season, also received a multi-year contract; the deal worth worth $300,000 a year.

Fresno State’s total pool for assistant coaches is up to $2,128,500 from $2 million in 2022.

That is not at the top of the Mountain West, but much more competitive. Colorado State had a pool of $3 million last season; Boise State $2.35 million.

The highest paid assistants in the conference last year were paid $400,000.

“We need to compete,” Tumey said. “Some of the enhancements that we want to do to the program are not as immediate — we want to have enhancements in our capital improvement, we want to move forward in those spaces. But those things take time, and I don’t know if there’s anything more impactful than a coach.

“A coach touches the life of a student-athlete every day, so why not invest in those resources? I think that’s the approach that we have to have. This is a very competitive conference, a very competitive industry. We have to capitalize on the assets that we have, and right now our coaches are it.”