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Fresno State is close to formally naming Southern California assistant head coach Matt Entz as its new head coach.

Entz guided FCS power North Dakota State to two national championships before joining the USC staff after last season.

Fresno State hasn’t officially announced Entz’s hiring, but Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley made it clear Entz is departing.

“When you have a really quality staff, and you have really good people on your staff, you’re gonna have guys that get opportunities to move on, and I think we’re happy for Coach Entz first,” Riley told reporters Wednesday. “College football head coaching jobs are really really hard to get, and I think it’s always a sign of a healthy program, where programs are wanting to come in and hire your people, particularly for head coaching roles.

“He did a great job for us, made us better, made me better, was a great hire, a big part of what was one of the most, statistically, improved defenses in the country. I wish he and (his wife) Brenda the best.”

Entz, 52, went 60-11 from 2019-23 at North Dakota State. The Bison were national champions in 2019 and 2021.

Entz took the job at USC to bolster his resume in hopes of landing an FBS head coaching job. He was linebackers coach in addition to his assistant head coach duties of overseeing the defense.

Entz will replace Tim Skipper, who guided Fresno State to a 6-6 record this season as the interim coach. Skipper took over after Jeff Tedford stepped down in mid-July due to health concerns.

–Field Level Media