In just three years, Jedd Fisch took the Arizona football program from an 0-5 record under Kevin Sumlin in 2020 to a 10-3 year and Alamo Bowl win in 2023, led by an exciting true freshman quarterback and one of the best underclassmen wide receivers in the entire country.
Now, Jedd Fisch, a true football mercenary is off to greener pastures in Seattle, replacing Kalen DeBoer, who departed for Alabama after taking the Huskies to the College Football Playoff National Championship.
Newly named Washington head coach Jedd Fisch's longest time at one place since 2008 was Arizona (3 years). 10 different teams in 16 years. Had no idea he was that much of a nomad.
— Matt Prehm (@MattPrehm) January 15, 2024
Fisch will try to get the team back to that point and he’ll likely try to do it with a lot of the same players that won 10 games in Tucson this season. However, he may have burnt a few too many bridges with the program after a team meeting that only lasted three minutes before fleeing the Big 12 for the Big Ten.
Jedd Fisch’s team meeting with the Arizona players and staff lasted for three minutes and will be heading to the airport to get on a plane for Seattle
— Jacob Seliga (@jacob_seliga) January 14, 2024
Players look dejected walking out of Arizona Stadium. The meeting with Jedd Fisch lasted just a few minutes. pic.twitter.com/iIEwbcW0y4
— Matt Reynoldson (@Matt_Reynoldson) January 15, 2024
Arizona had not won 10 games in a year since 2014 under Rich Rodriguez and by doing it with Noah Fifita and Tetairoa McMillan, the future couldn’t have been brighter for the Wildcats as they moved into the Big 12 this offseason. That makes this move all the more painful for Arizona fans.
Arizona was set to return 18 of its 22 starters and enter the season as a Top 15 team with legitimate Playoff aspirations.
— Dane Miller (@DaneMiller_SWS) January 14, 2024
But Jedd Fisch decided to chase money instead. Can’t imagine what the players are going through.
Now, Arizona fans have to hold their breath to wait and see if Fisch returns to tear apart the program through the transfer portal. Something that has become commonplace for nomadic head coaches in college football.
Jedd Fisch is leaving for Washington after 3 years at Arizona. He will presumably be taking all of Arizona’s talent, all the while being on the brink of doing something that has never been done at Arizona (CFP). College football is broken. I’m done with it.
— Sidelines - Arizona 🐻⬇️ (@SSN_Zona) January 14, 2024
Arizona's loss isn't Jedd Fisch. He can be replaced in kind, or with a better coach. The loss will be the players he takes with him to Seattle. If he has no conscience, he could gut the UA program.
— Greg Hansen (@ghansen711) January 15, 2024
The situation was compounded by Fisch’s recent comments about wanting to stay in Tucson, though comments like that are not unique to Fisch’s situation. Arizona’s athletic department may have had a chance to save their coach, but athletic director Dave Heeke was stuck in the Pacific Northwest with plane troubles while Washington AD Troy Dannen made the trip.
Arizona's loss isn't Jedd Fisch. He can be replaced in kind, or with a better coach. The loss will be the players he takes with him to Seattle. If he has no conscience, he could gut the UA program.
— Greg Hansen (@ghansen711) January 15, 2024
Understandably, Arizona fans feel betrayed by the coach who saved their football program from the damage done by Kevin Sumlin. The way that he left, with just a brief meeting with his players, certainly made the situation even worse.
What you have done to the players and the city of Tucson will never be forgotten. You are an absolute liar Jedd Fisch
— Parker (@Parker_Burnettt) January 14, 2024
Jedd Fisch is such a traitor. I can’t wait until he gets slapped around in the big 10.
— jeremy weisberg (@JeremyWeisberg) January 14, 2024
Now, it's time for the program to search for the next head coach, and figure out how to keep the talent that Fisch recruited and developed in Tucson.