Matt Entz is coaching at Fresno State, not Ohio State. He is coaching in the Football Bowl Subdivision's lower realm, not in its top tier, a point which will be magnified when Fresno State faces USC this Friday. Yet, as USA TODAY Sports reports, Entz is getting major investments and backing from his bosses and Fresno State football donors.
"Entz also is embracing the vision of his athletic director, Garrett Klassy, whose previous experience includes Alabama and Houston in upper-cabinet roles. Klassy's vision for Fresno's "Valley Co-Op" has Entz touting a "quadrupled" monetary investment into the Bulldogs' football roster and sees Klassy linking it to the region.
"'I needed coaches, I needed more boots on the street, for lack of a better term, because it couldn't just be myself, it couldn't just be our Bulldog Foundation staff out there,' Klassy says of the program, which he relates to the San Joaquin Valley's 3 million residents and agricultural roots. 'And the coaches, it's really resonated with the coaches, and we do have a lot of supporters that give to multiple programs. There's two areas where we can make up ground on the rest of the league and that's philanthropic giving. And that's corporate sponsorship, and so we need to grow those immensely. And we're going to announce a record fundraising year, which is $5 million more annually than it was the previous year. Corporate sponsorships with the jersey patches are almost across the finish line; we should be up $2 to $3 million in that area. Now that doesn't make a big difference in the SEC or Big Ten, but that makes a huge difference for us.'
Klassy envisions the 4,300-member Valley Co-Op swelling to 7,000 across the next year.
"Entz, meanwhile, wants Fresno football to live up to its billing as the region's top draw.

#valley

Fresno State athletic director Garrett Klassy has signed a new five-year deal to stay with the Bulldogs, ESPN's Pete Thamel reports.
According to ESPN sources, Klassy's extension guarantees him a total salary of $2.9 million, which is among the largest guaranteed deals for an athletic director outside the Power Four conferences.
Klassy, who joined the Bulldogs in 2024, has led the school's move to the PAC-12, the hiring of head football coach Matt Entz and, lately, the historic sponsorship deal with The Wonderful Company.
Before Fresno State, Klassy was the Deputy Athletic Director at the University of Houston. As well as prior stints at the University of Nebraska, University of Oregon and University of Alabama.
FULL INTERVIEW: Fresno State Athletics Director Garret Klassy sat down with Action News for an exclusive interview as he wraps up year one leading the Bulldogs.

#klassy #bulldogs #Athletic

After months of anticipation, Fresno State officially entered a new chapter in its athletics history as the revamped Pac-12 era began July 1.
The Bulldogs joined Boise State, Colorado State and San Diego State in moving from the Mountain West to the new-look conference. Fresno State Athletic Director Garrett Klassy, reflected on the move and what it means not just for student-athlete, but the Red Wave.
"This is something this fan base has been waiting for a long time...all about the fans," Klassy said.
Klassy said the move is expected to elevate not only the student-athlete experience but also the program's visibility and financial outlook. He pointed to the Pac-12's new television deal as a key component in boosting revenue and expanding national exposure, which he said can directly benefit the program's competitiveness.
"Winning helps to keep the best and brightest at home...central valley," Klassy said.