Marshall Sperbeck entered a crowded press conference filled with alumni, players, administration, family and friends on Saturday, and President Alexander Gonzalez introduced him as Sacramento State’s new football coach.

Signing a five-year deal makes Sperbeck the highest paid coach at Sac State at $120,000 per year. Sperbeck described the Hornets football team as a “sleeping giant” and said the team has the potential to become a winning program.

“We have a lot of work to do, and we got to take it one day at a time in building our foundation and our success here, and whether it’s Davis or Montana or these other people, the day will come when we’re ready to compete against them, and hopefully that day is next season,” Sperbeck said.

The ninth football coach in school history was overwhelmed, considering Sperbeck got his last coaching job over a bologna sandwich and a can of soda.

Gonzalez addressed more than 80 people in attendance and assured the crowd that the university worked hard to bring the best candidates to the football program.

“Ultimately, it was clear to me that Marshall Sperbeck was right for the job,” Gonzalez said.

When it was announced on Nov. 27 that former coach Steve Mooshagian’s contract would not be renewed, Athletic Director Terry Wanless said the school would be conducting a national search for the team’s new coach.

Wanless said the school was looking for a candidate with proven coaching success and ties to the local community.

Coming back to a different Sac State campus was more of a homecoming for Sperbeck. He stood in front of a room filled with family, friends and former coaches and teammates he hadn’t seen in long time.

“Dr. Wanless and (President) Gonzalez made me feel welcome to the Sacramento community again,” Sperbeck said.

Out of approximately 70 candidates, Sperbeck was one of three finalist chosen to interview for the vacant coaching job, Wanless said.

The other two final candidates were San Jose co-defensive coordinator Tom Williams and Sierra College coach Jeff Tisdale.

Sperbeck was the first to be interviewed by Wanless on Jan. 4, Williams was scheduled for the next day and Tisdale interviewed on Jan. 8.

Sperbeck received the news that he was hired for the job last Thursday by Gonzalez.

Wanless said it was Sperbeck’s record with Foothill College and his ties to the community that distinguished himself as the right choice.

“His consistency with Foothill over 15 years was very impressive,” Wanless said.

Sperbeck compiled a 109-53 overall record and made 11 bowl game appearances in his 15-year career as the Foothill coach. The Owls were 10-1 this season and were tied for the Northern California Football Association title.

Foothill advanced to the Silicon Valley Bowl where they faced Sierra College. The Owls beat the Wolverines 24-0.

With the departure of Mooshagian, many of the team’s returning starters recruited by Mooshagian, including quarterback Marcel Marquez and middle linebacker Cyrus Mulitalo, were left in limbo.

The announcement created a sense of excitement and relief, Mulitalo said, and the team can now make steps toward the future.

“I know (Sperbeck) comes from a winning program, and he knows how to win,” Mulitalo said.

In Mooshagian’s four-year career with the Hornets, he posted an 11-33 record and went 4-7 in the 2006 season. Under Mooshagian, the Hornets posted a 0-4 record in the Causeway Classic against rival UC Davis.

With a Sac State team that hasn’t won a Causeway Classic since the 1999 season, Sperbeck considered his opening game against Fresno State to be his first priority.

“It is one day at a time and that’s the way I’ve coached (in) my life, that’s the way I try to go about my business, and that’s the way I coach my football team,” Sperbeck said. “The Causeway Classic, I don’t even know when that date is. I’m more concerned about Fresno State and anything in that first game.”

Sperbeck played as a quarterback at the University of Nevada from 1981-82 and led the team to a pair of winning seasons while throwing for 2,425 yards.

While in Nevada, Sperbeck earned a bachelor’s of science degree in physical education from Nevada in 1984 and later added a master’s of education from United States International in 1989.

Following college, he had two stints in NFL training camps before joining the Foothill staff as an assistant coach in 1985. He coached quarterbacks and receivers and was later elevated to offensive coordinator before becoming head coach in 1992.

Matthew Beltran can be reached at [email protected].