New Fresno State offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau joins the program looking to improve from a tough 2015 season.

He brings years of experience with successful schools throughout the country.

Kiesau spent the 2015 season as an offensive analyst for the University of Alabama under famed coach Nick Saban. With Kiesau’s help, Alabama’s offense ranked near the top in the Southeastern Conference.

Fresno State’s regional popularity is partly what drew Kiesau to this job.

“I love the Valley. The city of Fresno and the fans are so awesome, and they’re so fired up about Fresno State football,” he said.

Kiesau compared Fresno to the Bay Area and Southern California. Both of which have professional teams.

“Here in Fresno, this is your professional team,” Kiesau said. “This is it. That’s one of the things that excited me about Fresno State.”

He praised the Red Wave for its support of the team throughout the Central Valley and said he is excited to “get this place re-energized about football again.”

Kiesau is overhauling a Fresno State offense that struggled in 2015. The Bulldogs were last in the conference in offensive yards per game and ranked 10th out of 12 teams in scoring offense. He feels the team is responding well to the coaching change and is making progress.

“I think we’ve made a lot of strides from spring to summer to now fall camp,” Kiesau said. “We’ve got a good plan, a good setup, and the players are buying in.”

At Alabama, Kiesau worked closely with offensive coordinator and Fresno State alumnus Lane Kiffin. Under their coaching, running back Derrick Henry won the Heisman Trophy, and the team beat Clemson to win the National Championship. ­

Before his stint at Alabama, Kiesau served as offensive coordinator at Kansas during the latter part of the 2014 season and was in charge of Washington’s offense for the 2012 and 2013 seasons. He also coached for former Fresno State quarterback Jeff Tedford at the University of California from 2002-05 and in 2011.