FRESNO, Calif. – Jamar Cain, an up-and-coming defensive line coach from North Dakota State, who also had a brief stint at San Jose State, will join Fresno State as its defensive line coach, head coach Jeff Tedford announced on Thursday.

“We’re excited about Jamar, I’ve had my eye on him a long time,” said Tedford. “He had a proven track record as a winner at North Dakota State, he’s highly respected in the field, a quality person, a great recruiter, and cares about the student-athletes on-and-off the field.”

Cain coached the last three seasons at North Dakota State. He was part of NDSU's fourth and fifth straight FCS national championships in 2014 and 2015, and the team's sixth consecutive Missouri Valley Football Conference title in 2016.

Cain helped in developing 2014 Buck Buchanan Award winner (best defensive player in the FCS) and consensus All-American Kyle Emanuel, who had 19.5 sacks and 32.5 tackles for a loss his senior year and was a fifth round NFL draft pick. He also coached All-American Greg Menard, a nominee for the 2016 Buck Buchanan Award.

Prior to NDSU, Cain was an assistant coach for defensive lines at Wyoming (2013), Cal Poly (2009-12), and Missouri State (2006-08). While coaching for the Cowboys, Cain was elevated to interim defensive coordinator under head coach Dave Christensen eight games into the season.

Cain was a defensive graduate assistant on Frank Solich's staff at Ohio in 2005, and was the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator at Sacramento City College in 2004.

Cain graduated from New Mexico State in 2002 with a bachelor's degree in family consumer sciences. He and his wife, DeCarla, have two children, Cosby and Cali.