Jedd jets after turn-around 10-3 Alama Bowl championship season
SEATTLE — Arizona’s Jedd Fisch agreed Sunday to a reported seven-year, $54.25 million deal to become the new coach at Washington.
The school confirmed the hiring Sunday evening but didn’t divulge financial figures.
Fisch informed Arizona coaches and players during a brief team meeting that he is departing.
Fisch replaces Kalen DeBoer, who took the Alabama job on Friday. DeBoer guided the Huskies to the College Football Playoff national title game, where they lost to Michigan 34-13 on Monday.
Fisch, 47, coached the Wildcats to a 10-3 record and a No. 11 final ranking in the AP poll this season. Arizona finished the season with seven consecutive victories, including a 38-24 win over Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl.
It marked just the fourth time the Wildcats won 10 or more games in a season.
Overall, Fisch went 16-21 in three seasons with the Wildcats. His first team went 1-11 in 2021 before he won five games the following year and made another jump this season.
JEDD FISCH PENS THANK YOU TO TUCSON
Among Fisch’s past coaching stints was a one-year stay (2010) as the Seattle Seahawks’ quarterbacks coach. He was the New England Patriots’ quarterbacks coach for the 2020 season before Arizona hired him.
DeBoer went 25-3 in two seasons with the Huskies. Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb was hopeful of being promoted to head coach but announced Saturday night that he “will not be the next head coach at the University of Washington.”
Arizona Athletics director Dave Heeke issued a statement Sunday night on Fisch’s decision to leave for Seattle.
“I want to thank Coach Fisch for his tireless work and relentless dedication to rebuilding Arizona Football into a point of pride for the entire Wildcat Family. While we did not want to see Coach Fisch leave and made every effort to retain him by continuing our investment in the football program, we wish him the best as he begins a new chapter in his career.
As for next steps, we have a shared vision for the program and our student-athletes. Arizona Football is well positioned for future success and championship excellence, and I am confident we will attract a new leader who will continue the positive trajectory of our nationally ranked football program. The national search for a new head coach is already underway, and I will refrain from any public comments until our next head coach is announced.”– Arizona Vice President & Director of Athletics Dave Heeke
–Field Level Media
David Kelly contributed to this story
