photo courtesy of Glen Johnson of Texas A&M athletics
Several sources, including the website footballscoop.com is reporting that current Texas A&M interim head coach Tim DeRuyter is set to be introduced Wednesday as Fresno State’s newest head football coach.
DeRuyter was reportedly in Fresno this past weekend, and was also brought in for a second interview to see the university and its surrounding facilities.
If DeRuyter is named the new head coach, this will end a week long wait for Fresno State, who has been searching for a replacement for 15-year head coach Pat Hill, who was fired by Athletic Director Thomas Boeh back on Dec. 4.
DeRuyter took over as the Aggies’ interim coach after the firing of Mike Sherman, who lost his job just two days before Fresno State made the decision to go their separate ways with Hill.
Texas A&M finished a disappointing 6-6 regular season and a 4-5 mark in conference play, which began with preseason Top 10 projections and fielding a team that could make a run at the Big XII title. The Aggies were losers of four of their last five games to close out their final year as a Big XII member. They will move to the Southeastern Conference next football season.
Former University of Houston head coach Kevin Sumlin has been named Sherman’s replacement for the 2012 season and is currently assembling his coaching staff.
For DeRuyter, if he is to be introduced Wednesday as the next Bulldog coach, he does have a previous connection to Thomas Boeh.
Both DeRuyter and Boeh were at the University of Ohio. DeRuyter’s first stint with the Bobcats was from 1995-1998. He then had a second stint from 2002-2004, when Boeh served as the university’s athletic director.
DeRuyter even coached against the Bulldogs in the 2005-2006 season while serving as defensive coordinator for the University of Nevada-Reno.
After being with the Wolf Pack and before Texas A&M, DeRuyter spent three seasons as the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator for the Air Force Academy.
The Aggies’ defense this past season ranked 66th overall in the nation, which included allowing an average of 386.5 yards per game on defense and surrendering 22 rushing touchdowns inside the red zone.
However, his 3-4 unit did lead the Big XII in sacks this past year with 43. Sean Porter led the way with eight sacks for the Aggies. They also ranked No. 2 versus the run in the Big XII conference.
He also helped coach NFL rookie sensation Von Miller, who is currently second in the AFC with 12 sacks, which also leads all defensive rookies.
If this is true, how can this be an improvement over Pat Hill. A&M had the 113th pass defense, which typically has been FSU’s achilles heel on defense. Also, A&M underachieved based upon their talent which is why the head coach was fired?? This appears to be a move that will lessen the likelyhood to win more than 7-8 games a year. Not offering the money for McElwain costs FSU, and if FSU does’n't have the money they would be better off giving a shot at guy coming from a winning HS program like a rookie. If you cannnot afford proven talent, you have to try to grab budding talent before their price tag goes up. It looks like Fresno is in trouble.
Dirk, perhaps you didn’t read the article alll the way. Deruyter was hired right after the end of the season.
Then I read it wrong too. I read that he was the D coordinator this year. Allowing 380+ yards per game is nothing that l would write home about.