Jedd Fisch had simple motivations for his departure from Arizona to become the coach at Washington. The Huskies recruited Fisch after Kalen DeBoer left to take over for Nick Saban at Alabama, and the hiring of the former Arizona coach was widely celebrated as a major victory for the program. Winning football games with the Wildcats was no easy feat, but Fisch managed to achieve an impressive 10 wins in his third year with the team. When DeBoer left, the Huskies seized the opportunity to convince Fisch to join them in Seattle.
Fisch explained his decision to take the Washington job in an interview with The Athletic. He revealed that it ultimately boiled down to the allure of coaching in the Big Ten and leading a program that had recently competed in the national championship. Fisch expressed his eagerness to accept this opportunity, stating that he would have readily accepted the offer from Washington had they not reached out. In that case, he would have been discussing the positive prospects for the spring season in Arizona, rather than considering the UCLA job, which held no interest for him then or now. The focus would have remained on the developments at Arizona.
Fisch’s reasoning is difficult to dispute. Arizona will be joining the Big 12 in the upcoming season, while Washington will be part of the Big Ten. The disparity in revenue potential and prestige between the two conferences is significant. In the landscape of college football, the powerhouses are primarily found in the Big Ten and SEC, with other conferences vying for positions below them. Additionally, Washington has proven itself as a successful program, further justifying Fisch’s decision to accept the job. The gap between Arizona and Washington will only widen in the future, and the substantial annual salary of $7.75 million certainly sweetens the deal.
Now, the question remains whether Fisch can deliver results in Seattle. He has already demonstrated his ability to win with the Wildcats, and the Huskies’ fans have high expectations for him to replicate that success. Share your thoughts on Fisch by emailing David.Hookstead@.
According to the Source outkick.com