Arizona's Jedd Fisch named Washington coach after Kalen DeBoer leaves for Alabama
Washington football hired former Arizona coach Jedd Fisch to become the Huskies' head coach,, the school announced Sunday evening.
Fisch just completed his third year with the Wildcats, who were 10-3 in 2023 and beat Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl 38-24. The 47-year-old coach replaces Kalen DeBoer, who was announced as Alabama's coach on Saturday.
REQUIRED READING: Kalen DeBoer bids emotional farewell to Washington football in Alabama news conference
Fisch takes over Washington as it heads into its first year in the Big Ten Conference, along with former Pac-12 programs USC, UCLA and Oregon. He also inherits a roster that won the Pac-12 in 2023, going 14-0 before falling to Michigan in the national championship.
Prior to his three-year stint at Arizona, he served as the quarterbacks coach for the New England Patriots in 2020, and was an offensive assistant for the Los Angeles Rams in 2018 and 2019.
In his 27-year coaching career, Fisch also was an assistant coach at UCLA and Michigan, and offensive coordinator at Jacksonville, among other roles.
While the Huskies found immense success last season, Fisch will be tasked with replacing Heisman Trophy runner-up Michael Penix Jr. and Penix's favorite targets: Biletnikoff Award finalist Rome Odunze, and Jalen McMillan and Ja'Lynn Polk, all of whom have declared for the NFL draft. In addition, 1,000-yard rusher Dillon Johnson is NFL-bound.
Arizona freshman quarterback Noah Fifita and receiver Tetairoa McMillan could end up with Fisch, two Wildcats who emerged as two of the best players in the Pac-12 this past season. That would address a huge need for the Huskies, with Will Rogers entering the portal before playing a game in Washington and former four-star recruit Austin Mack following suit.
More: Michael Penix Jr. NFL draft stock, projections: How experts view Washington quarterback
Jedd Fisch's contract
According to The Athletic's Bruce Feldman, Fisch's contract with Washington is reportedly a seven-year deal worth $7.75 million a year.
According to USA TODAY's salary database, Fisch made $3.25 million at Arizona in 2023, which made him the 54th highest-paid head coach in college football.
DeBoer, Washington's former coach, made $4.2 million in 2023, marking him the 44th highest-paid coach nationally. The Huskies have made a much larger commitment to Fisch, paying him $3.5 million more per year than DeBoer made there.
Jedd Fisch's record
Fisch has a 17-22 all-time record as a head coach, which includes going 1-1 as the interim head coach at UCLA in 2017. At Arizona, Fisch finished 1-11 in 2021, 5-7 in 2022 and 10-3 in 2023.
Jedd Fisch's buyout
Fisch's buyout at Arizona was $5.5 million, according to contract details obtained by USA TODAY Sports. The buyout was less than half of DeBoer's $12 million buyout upon leaving Washington for Alabama.
This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Arizona's Jedd Fisch is Washington coach after DeBoer goes to Alabama
