CSUN Loses Baldwin to San Jose St.

Dave Baldwin, Cal State Northridge’s football coach the last two seasons, was hired Friday to head the program at San Jose State.

Baldwin, who replaces the retired John Ralston, was the receivers coach at San Jose State between 1980-83 under Jack Elway and also served as an assistant offensive coach at Stanford.

Baldwin, 41, led Northridge to a 7-4 record this season, the school’s first winning record at the Division I-AA level, and was 9-12 overall.

Before going to Northridge, Baldwin was head coach at Santa Rosa Junior College in 1994, and at Santa Barbara City College between 1990-93. He was 31-21 in five seasons at the junior college level.

“He’s the right man at the right time,” said Tom Brennan, San Jose State athletic director. “He has outstanding experience recruiting in California and has success as a head coach. He’s recognized as someone who improves and builds programs.”

San Jose State finished 3-9 under Ralston in its first season as a member of the Western Athletic Conference.

“There’s no question Dave Baldwin is the guy who will lead our football program into the 21st century as a major force,” Brennan said.

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Southern Mississippi Coach Jeff Bower has declined a job at Wyoming and will stay at his alma mater.

“The fact that we have plans on the board to build new athletic facilities here leads me to believe that our best days are ahead of us. This is where I want to be,” Bower said.

Bower led the Golden Eagles to an 8-3 record this season.

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Youngstown State gave Coach Jim Tressel a three-year contract extension.

Tressel is 95-44-1 in 11 years with Youngstown and guided the team to three Division I-AA championships between 1991 and 1994.