COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Jimbo Fisher, who led Florida State University to a national championship in 2013, has been named head football coach at Texas A&M University, Aggie Director of Athletics Scott Woodward announced today. Fisher agreed to a ten-year contract worth $75 million. No state-appropriated funds will be used to pay the coach’s salary.
Fisher took over the FSU football program in 2010, following the retirement of coaching legend Bobby Bowden. Fisher averaged more than 10 wins per season during his tenure and compiled an overall record of 83-23 with a .783 winning percentage, fourth-best among active head coaches (minimum five years). His winning percentage is the best in Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) history. His ACC record was 48-16 with three ACC championships and four Atlantic Division titles.
The 2013 Rawlings College Football Coach of the Year, Fisher has twice been a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award (2013, 2014) and was a finalist for the Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award in 2014. Fisher led the Seminoles to victories in five of seven bowl game appearances, including three wins in traditional New Year’s Day bowl games.
Under Fisher’s leadership, 83 FSU football student-athletes graduated while his program produced 12 consensus All-America honorees and his recruiting classes ranked in the Top 10 in each of the past seven years. Fisher had 42 FSU players drafted into the NFL, including 19 first-or second-round selections. Three of his quarterbacks at FSU have been selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.
As a head coach, Fisher is 9-2 against SEC teams after coaching 13 seasons in the SEC as an assistant with stops at Auburn (six years) and LSU (seven years).
Fisher has been active in the community through his foundation, Kidz1stFund. The non-profit was founded in 2011 to raise awareness and funds to find a cure for Fanconi anemia, a rare blood disorder that affects thousands, including Fisher’s youngest son, Ethan.
Fisher grew up in West Virginia and played quarterback at Salem College in West Virginia, earning All-America honors before playing his final season of eligibility at Samford College (now Samford University) in Birmingham, Ala.
He began his coaching career at Samford in 1988-89 coaching quarterbacks and was promoted to offensive coordinator in 1991. Fisher coached quarterbacks at Auburn from 1993-98 before becoming the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Cincinnati in 1999. He joined head coach Nick Saban’s staff at LSU in 2000 as the quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator, helping the Tigers win the 2003 national championship as well as two SEC titles. He joined Bobby Bowden’s staff at Florida State in 2007 as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, serving three seasons in that role (2007-09).
Fisher has two sons, Trey and Ethan.
Texas A & M University Head Football Coach Jimbo Fisher:
“There are very few places in America that I would have left Florida State for, and Texas A&M is at the top. I want to thank the great people at Florida State for an incredible opportunity. President Young and Scott Woodward have been tremendous in our discussions and I know that we will do great things together. We have everything in place to reach our goal, which is to bring a national title to College Station, and I can’t wait to get started.”
Texas A & M University Director of Athletics Scott Woodward:
“When we set out to find a new leader of our proud football program, we set our sights high. Jimbo is among the best football coaches in America and a perfect fit for A&M. His experience in the Southeastern Conference (SEC); his knowledge of the game; his recruiting acumen, and his management skills will allow him to achieve the highest levels of success when matched with what A&M offers. We are thrilled to welcome Jimbo to the Aggie Family.”
Chairman of the Texas A & M System Board of Regents Charles Schwartz:
“We are excited to welcome Coach Fisher to Aggieland and to make one more Aggie convert. Our athletic programs strive for excellence on and off the field and Coach Fisher is just the man to help us fulfill our highest aspirations.”
Chancellor of the Texas A & M System John Sharp:
“Gone are the days when we settle for a good football team. We expect to compete soon for championships. Our Board of Regents and 12thMan fans are to be commended for devoting resources to facilities and now to the coaching staff to do just that. Beat the Hell Out of Everybody!”
Texas A & M University President Michael Young:
“We are delighted to welcome Jimbo Fisher to Aggieland! Athletic Director Scott Woodward has proven yet again in the years we’ve worked together his ability to recruit top-tier talent. Jimbo has the skills and the heart to take our football program to the next level and beyond with great student athletes who can make it happen. We are grateful for the support of the Board of Regents and Chancellor Sharp. I have no doubt that many of the more than 500,000 current and former Texas A&M students are high-fiving, posting and smiling today over this news. It’s always a great day to be an Aggie and we’re happy to welcome Jimbo to the family.”
Story courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics