Will Jedd Fisch leave UW Huskies for Florida or UCLA? We have no idea
Washington coach Jedd Fisch walks on to the turf at Camp Randall Stadium Saturday In Madison, Wisc. (Dean Rutz / The Seattle Times)
By Matt Calkins Seattle Times columnist
Here are some of the best things about being a high-profile college football coach: A seven-, sometimes eight-figure salary. The thrill of competing in front of tens of thousands of people each Saturday. The building of countless relationships, many of which last a lifetime.
I could go on.
Here is maybe the worst thing about being a high-profile college football coach: Answering questions about whether you’ll be around for the foreseeable future.
Frankly, there is no good answer. You could be honest and say you have aspirations of a bigger job and immediately alienate your fan base. You could say you plan to stay and get called a liar the second you take off. Even if you’re convinced you’ve found a permanent home and have no wish to depart, life has a funny way of shifting your desires.
Which brings us to Jedd Fisch. The University of Washington football coach’s future has been a source of speculation throughout the season. You’ll see his name pop up when keyboard warriors muse about who will take the reins at Florida or UCLA next year.
Hey, sports are a theme park, and the coaching carousel is one of its most popular attractions — so no hate for the online prognosticators. But rumors cause concern within fan bases, so Fisch was asked Monday to address his name being on certain “lists” for coaching vacancies.
Because the full quote could fill the rest of this column, I’ll paraphrase. Fisch said the people making those lists have zero inside information. He lauded the young talent — most notably quarterback Demond Williams Jr. — on his roster and how excited he is to coach it. He underscored the investments he has made in UW’s facilities. And he labeled the idea that he wanted out due to his family living in Arizona as “ridiculous,” asserting that it had everything to do with his daughter wanting to finish high school in familiar surroundings.
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It was a strong statement, and one he seemed prepared to make. But does it mean anything?
I don’t know. I don’t doubt Fisch’s intent to turn Washington into one of the best football programs in the country. I don’t question the bond he has formed with his players, either.
But I also have no idea what else he was supposed to say in response to that question Monday. Even if he wants another gig down the road, he still has to recruit and keep players to keep Washington competitive now. Anything weaker than Monday’s statement would have compromised that.
Keep in mind that in January 2024, Fisch told Jim Rome on his radio show that he had every intention of staying at Arizona and taking the Wildcats to the College Football Playoff. A week and a half later, he took the job at UW.
Keep in mind that Fisch’s comments Monday came after the Huskies (6-3, 3-3 in the Big Ten) lost to lowly Wisconsin (3-6,1-5), costing them any shot at the CFP. Did Fisch’s appeal as a coach for a program in need take a hit?
It’s also worth pointing out that Fisch — known for his recruiting talent — brought Williams and UW running back Jonah Coleman with him from Arizona. It’s more than conceivable that he could get Williams and others to go with him to a new spot.
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It’s also conceivable that Fisch is in purple and gold for the next decade-plus. We have no idea.
Despite the loss to the Badgers, the Huskies are on pace to improve upon last year’s 6-6 regular season. They are heavy favorites to beat Purdue on Saturday and will have a winnable road game vs. UCLA the following week before hosting mighty Oregon.
Considering the tumbleweeds rolling through the roster after Kalen DeBoer left after taking UW to the national title game two seasons ago, going, say, 8-4 would be a commendable achievement for Fisch in Year 2.
Still, there are two realities when it comes to the Huskies’ football program. The first is that it can succeed under a lot of different coaches. Don James won a national title here. Rick Neuheisel won a Rose Bowl with a team that finished third in the nation. Chris Petersen won three Pac-12 titles while making the CFP semifinal. And DeBoer was one victory from the whole enchilada.
The second, though, is that this doesn’t quite feel like a final destination for the most ambitious coaches. It isn’t Ohio State or Alabama or Georgia or Michigan.
It might not quite be Florida, either. There is likely a concurrent relationship between the success of UW football and the likelihood that he’ll leave.
In the meantime, Fisch is committed to the Huskies now, and they still have a chance for a memorable season. His focus is on the present. Fans’ focus should be there, too.
Matt Calkins: mcalkins@seattletimes .com. Matt Calkins has been a sports columnist with the Seattle Times since 2015, where he has covered national title games, got a Seahawk to design his apartment and once extracted a two-word quote from Marshawn Lynch.
Comments
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Loser talk by fucking losers
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There was like one tiny blurb about how we lost to Wisconsin. If you knew nothing about Washington or Jedd the article makes it seem like this is actually a hot coaching candidate.
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One wonders who's greasing who here.
