Tollner Returns to College : Football: The Rams’ quarterback coach becomes the new head coach at San Diego State.

Ted Tollner has been hired as football coach at San Diego State, a source told the Associated Press Friday.

The school scheduled a news conference for 8 p.m. EST.

Tollner is currently quarterbacks coach with the Los Angeles Rams. A Rams front office employee who spoke only on the condition that he not be identified said Tollner would go to San Diego after Friday’s practice.

Tollner will replace Al Luginbill, who was fired Tuesday, three days after a loss to Wyoming eliminated the Aztecs from bowl contention for the second straight year.

Tollner was offensive coordinator at San Diego State from 1973-80, spent a year each at Brigham Young and Southern Cal, then replaced John Robinson as the Trojans’ head coach in 1983.

He led the Trojans to the Rose Bowl after the 1984 season, but was fired two years later.

Like Luginbill, Tollner had a winning record -- 26-20-1 -- when he was fired. He was 0-4 against Notre Dame, a streak since extended to 0-11, and 1-3 against UCLA. But his recruiting classes included Rodney Peete and Junior Seau, and the Trojans went to the Rose Bowl three straight years after Tollner’s dismissal.

Luginbill was 31-25-3 in five years at San Diego State.

Tollner will be asked to do what Luginbill couldn’t do the past three seasons -- get the Aztecs into the hometown Holiday Bowl as Western Athletic Conference champion.

After leaving Southern Cal, Tollner was an assistant with the Buffalo Bills for two seasons. He was offensive coordinator of the San Diego Chargers from 1989 until being fired by Dan Henning one game into the 1991 season. He then joined the Rams.

All eight of Luginbill’s assistants also were fired, but athletic director Fred Miller said they will be given the chance to interview with Tollner. Luginbill will be reassigned within the athletic department.

Aztecs star running back Marshall Faulk is expected to announce next week whether he will play his senior season or turn pro.