Jimbo Fisher

Jimbo Fisher
Fisher being introduced as Texas A&M's head football coach on December 4, 2017
Sport(s) Football
Current position
Title Head coach
Team Texas A&M
Conference SEC
Record 5–2
Annual salary $7.5 million
Biographical details
Born (1965-10-09) October 9, 1965
Clarksburg, West Virginia
Alma mater Salem International University
Samford University (1989)
Playing career
1985–1986 Salem
1987 Samford
1988 Chicago Bruisers
Position(s) Quarterback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1988–1990 Samford (GA/QB)
1991–1992 Samford (OC/QB)
1993–1998 Auburn (QB)
1999 Cincinnati (OC/QB)
2000–2006 LSU (OC/QB)
2007–2009 Florida State (OC/QB)
2010–2017 Florida State
2018–present Texas A&M
Head coaching record
Overall 88–25
Bowls 5–2
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1 National Championship (2013)
3 ACC (2012–2014)
4 ACC Atlantic Division (2010, 2012–2014)

John James "Jimbo" Fisher Jr. (born October 9, 1965) is an American college football coach and former player. He is the head coach at Texas A&M University. Previously, Fisher was the head coach at Florida State University.

As a senior at Samford University, Fisher was the 1987 NCAA Division III National Player of the Year. From 2000 until 2006 he was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Louisiana State University (LSU). From 2007 to 2009 he was offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach and, beginning in 2007, head coach-in-waiting for the Florida State Seminoles. Bobby Bowden, Florida State's head coach of 37 years, retired after the team's appearance in its 28th consecutive bowl game on January 1, 2010.[1] Fisher succeeded Bowden in 2010 and served as Florida State's head coach for eight seasons before resigning to accept the head coaching position at Texas A&M.

Life and career

Early life

Born in Clarksburg, West Virginia, Fisher attended North View Junior High School and Liberty High School before going to Salem College (now Salem International University) in Salem, West Virginia where he played quarterback under head coach Terry Bowden from 1985 to 1986. When Bowden left for Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, Fisher transferred with him to play his final season for the Bulldogs where he was named Division III National Player of the Year.[2] Fisher still holds multiple school records at Samford.[3]

Fisher played a season in the Arena Football League in 1988 for the Chicago Bruisers, then rejoined Terry Bowden at Samford as a graduate assistant coach working with quarterbacks from 1988–1990. He was subsequently hired as the full-time offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. After two seasons, Fisher moved with Bowden to Auburn University where he coached quarterbacks. At Auburn, Fisher coached several successful quarterbacks including Patrick Nix. He continued at Auburn until Tommy Tuberville took over as head coach following Terry Bowden's 1998 mid-season resignation.

Fisher coached quarterbacks and was the offensive coordinator for one season at Cincinnati before joining Nick Saban's staff at LSU in 2000. When Saban left for the NFL's Miami Dolphins Fisher remained at LSU to continue his role with Les Miles. At LSU he helped to develop a number of quarterbacks, including Josh Booty, Rohan Davey, Matt Mauck, and JaMarcus Russell.

Fisher interviewed for the head coaching position at the University of Alabama at Birmingham after the 2006 season but the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees vetoed the contract offer, sparking controversy since the same board oversees the flagship campus in Tuscaloosa. He turned down an invitation from Nick Saban to join the coaching staff at the University of Alabama to become offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Florida State University, where he replaced Jeff, son of then-Seminoles coach Bobby Bowden.

His contract guaranteed a salary of $215,000 with incentives increasing the total package into the $400,000's.[4][5] After his first season as offensive coordinator at Florida State, Fisher was named "head coach in waiting," making him the eventual successor for Bobby Bowden.[6] The new contract paid Fisher around $600,000 per year with a $2.5 million buyout clause.[7] The university promised to pay $5 million to Fisher if he was not made head coach by January 2011.

On December 1, 2009 Bowden announced that he would retire from coaching after the Seminoles' Gator Bowl game on New Year's Day 2010 against West Virginia. Fisher began selecting his staff and recruiting players while preparing the team for its bowl game for the last time as a Bowden assistant. The Seminoles sent Bowden out with a victory on January 1. Fisher held his first staff meeting the following afternoon. On January 5, he became the ninth head football coach in Florida State history.

Head coach at Florida State

Fisher in 2014 at Florida State.

Jimbo Fisher's official introduction as head coach took place at a Florida State University press conference on January 7, 2010. "Empowered, confident athletes are winners," he said. "My goal is to get the structure, the staff and the support resources in place to facilitate a winning plan and get players into the structure and start affecting change. Now." Fisher then announced his 2010 coaching staff:[8]

Jimbo went on to coach at FSU for 8 years accumulating an 83-23 record, a 2013 BCS national championship, 3 ACC conference championships, 4 AP Poll top 10 finishes, and 4 bowl game victories. His 0.783 winning percentage is the highest in FSU history among former head coaches.[9]

Head coach at Texas A&M

On December 1, 2017, Fisher resigned as the head coach at Florida State University to accept the same job at Texas A&M University.[10] Fisher signed a 10-year, $75 million contract with the Aggies.[11] During an August 2018 ESPN interview, when asked why he chose to take the A&M job, Fisher listed several reasons, including his connection with A&M athletic director Scott Woodward as well as the A&M culture, academics, and facilities.[12]

Personal life

Fisher and his ex-wife Candi have two sons, Trey and Ethan. Fisher's brother, Bryan, is the offensive coordinator at Fairmont State University and his mother, Gloria, teaches chemistry at Robert C. Byrd High School in Clarksburg, WV.[13][14] On Thursday, June 11, 2015, Fisher and his wife Candi announced that they had separated and were planning on a divorce.[15]

Fisher's son Ethan has Fanconi anemia. This was discussed on the ESPN Monday Night College Football game on September 2, 2013 between Florida State and the University of Pittsburgh as part of an effort by both schools to raise awareness of the disease.

Fisher earned the nickname "Slim Jimbo" because of his affinity for meat snacks. He has mentioned in numerous interviews that he wishes to launch an organic jerky company after he retires from coaching. The company would feature jerky made from animals native to both the Deep South and his native West Virginia, such as alligator, muskrat, and wild boar.[16]

Awards

Head coaching record

Jimbo Fisher (left) and Frank Beamer (right) at the 2010 ACC Championship Game.
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
Florida State Seminoles (Atlantic Coast Conference) (2010–2017)
2010 Florida State 10–46–21st (Atlantic) W Chick-Fil-A1617
2011 Florida State 9–45–3T–2nd (Atlantic) W Champs Sports2323
2012 Florida State 12–27–1T–1st (Atlantic) W Orange†810
2013 Florida State 14–08–01st (Atlantic) W BCS NCG†11
2014 Florida State 13–18–01st (Atlantic) L Rose†65
2015 Florida State 10–36–22nd (Atlantic) L Peach†1414
2016 Florida State 10–35–33rd (Atlantic) W Orange†88
2017 Florida State 5–6[note 1]3–56th (Atlantic)
Florida State: 83–2348–16
Texas A&M Aggies (Southeastern Conference) (2018–present)
2018 Texas A&M 5–23–1 (Western)
Texas A&M: 5–23–1
Total:88–25
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

Notes

  1. ↑ Fisher resigned before the last regular season game; interim head coach Odell Haggins coached the Seminoles in their last regular season game against Louisiana–Monroe and the Independence Bowl against Southern Miss.

Coaching tree

Assistants under Jimbo Fisher who have become NCAA or NFL head coaches:

References

  1. ↑ "Head Coach Bobby Bowden Signs One Year Contract". Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved December 13, 2009.
  2. ↑ "Jimbo Fisher". LSU Athletic Department. Retrieved October 16, 2006.
  3. ↑ "2006 Samford Football History". Samford Athletic Department. Retrieved October 16, 2006.
  4. ↑ "FSU, Fisher come to terms". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved January 8, 2007.
  5. 1 2 "FSU Announces Jimbo Fisher As New Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach". FSU Athletic Department. January 8, 2007. Archived from the original on November 3, 2007. Retrieved July 28, 2007.
  6. ↑ "''ESPN.com'': Sources: Fisher to replace Bowden at FSU when he retires". Sports.espn.go.com. December 7, 2007. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
  7. ↑ "Fisher's coaching deal has $2.5 million buyout". ESPN. December 17, 2007. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
  8. ↑ "Jimbo Fisher takes over FSU football program seeking key to victory – St. Petersburg Times". Tampabay.com. January 7, 2010. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
  9. ↑ "List of Florida State Seminoles head football coaches". Wikipedia. 2018-03-17.
  10. ↑ "Jimbo Fisher leaving for Texas A&M; won't coach Florida State Saturday". Tomahawk Nation. Retrieved 2017-12-01.
  11. ↑ https://www.theeagle.com/aggie_sports/fisher-s--million-contract-is-official/article_75d0b718-a587-11e8-84f0-83b5bb47a7af.html
  12. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C21clg0l1Wo
  13. ↑ "Fairmont State Athletic Directory Bio". Archived from the original on January 11, 2012.
  14. ↑ "West Virginia School Directory On-line". state.wv.us. Retrieved June 14, 2015.
  15. ↑ http://www.miamiherald.com/entertainment/ent-columns-blogs/jose-lambiet/article52299875.html
  16. ↑ Barnes, Charlie;HInds, John (2014). Florida State Football Flashback: The History of the Seminoles. pp. 208. ISBN 978-0794842338.
  17. ↑ "Player Bio: Jimbo Fisher". Seminoles.com. January 5, 2010. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
  18. ↑ "Jimbo Fisher named AFCA Regional Coach of the Year". Seminoles.com. October 10, 2013. Archived from the original on December 13, 2013. Retrieved October 10, 2013.
  19. ↑ "American Football Monthly - Letter from AFM: Crowning Achievement". americanfootballmonthly.com. Retrieved June 14, 2015.
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