Jimmy Rogers is WSU's 35th head football coach

PULLMAN - South Dakota State University (SDSU) head coach Jimmy Rogers has been named the next coach of the Washington State University (WSU) football team.

WSU Director of Athletics Anne McCoy announced the hiring on Saturday, Dec. 28. Coach Rogers has agreed to a five-year contract as the 35th head coach of the WSU football program.

"My family and I are thrilled for the opportunity to join the Washington State University community and lead Cougar football," Rogers said. "WSU has a rich and storied football tradition and we are eager to embark on the next chapter. When Ol' Crimson flies at College GameDay and other sites across the country, it is immediately recognizable because of the brand that Washington State University represents. We are privileged to now represent this brand and are committed to lifting WSU to new heights in this new and exciting landscape of college football. Go Cougs!"

In his first season at the helm, Rogers led SDSU to its second consecutive Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) national title and finished the 2023 season with a perfect 15-0 record.

SDSU held the top spot in both major FCS polls throughout the 2023 season and carried a 29-game winning streak.

In 2024, Rogers led the No. 3 SDSU Jackrabbits to a 12-3 overall record, including a semifinal run in the FCS where his team fell to the No. 2 North Dakota State Bison, 28-21, on Saturday, Dec. 21.

Through the end of the regular season, the Jackrabbit defense led all FCS schools in scoring defense at 12.4 points per game. On offense, SDSU ranked first in sacks allowed at o.5 per game and tackles for loss allowed at 2.58 per game.

Rogers will look to rebuild the WSU team after several key players have entered the transfer portal at the end of this season, including former starting quarterback John Mateer who committed to Oklahoma on Wednesday, Dec. 25. Mateer was the No. 1 overall player in ESPN's transfer rankings. He has two years of eligibility.

Rogers will head the Cougars after an 8-5 finish on the season and a 52-35 loss in the Holiday Bowl on Friday, Dec. 27, at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, Calif.

The Cougars lost the final "Pac-2" game against Oregon State, 41-38, on Saturday, Nov. 23, in Corvallis, Ore.

The Cougars, under the direction of Rogers, will look to be a contending team in the rebuilt Pac-12 Conference for the 2026 season with newly joined teams Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State.