Jimbo Fisher

John James "Jimbo" Fisher (born October 9, 1965) is an American college football coach and former player. He is currently head coach at Florida State University.

As a senior student at Samford University Fisher was the 1987 NCAA Division III National Player of the Year. From 2000 until 2006 he served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at LSU. From 2007 to 2009 he was offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach and, beginning in 2007, head coach-in-waiting for the Florida State Seminoles. Bobby Bowden, Florida State's head coach of 34 years, retired after the team's appearance in its 28th consecutive bowl game on 1 January 2010. Fisher took over as head coach soon after. Florida State is Fisher's first head coaching position and he led them to a 10–4 record during his first season. His inaugural year marked FSU's first 10-win season since 2003 and first appearance in the ACC Championship Game since 2005.

Background
Born in Clarksburg, West Virginia, Fisher attended North View Junior High School and Liberty High School before going to Salem College (now Salem International University) in Salem, West Virginia where he played quarterback under head coach Terry Bowden from 1985–1986. When Bowden left for Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, Fisher transferred with him to play his final season for the Bulldogs where he was named Division III National Player of the Year. Fisher still holds multiple school records at Samford.

Fisher played a season in the Arena Football League in 1988 for the Chicago Bruisers, then rejoined Terry Bowden at Samford as a graduate assistant coach working with quarterbacks from 1988–1990. He was subsequently hired as the fulltime offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. After two seasons Fisher moved with Bowden to Auburn University where he coached quarterbacks alongside offensive coordinator Tommy Bowden. At Auburn Fisher coached several successful quarterbacks including Patrick Nix, who would later serve as offensive coordinator at Georgia Tech and Miami. He continued at Auburn until Tommy Tuberville took over as head coach following Terry Bowden's 1998 mid-season resignation.

Fisher coached quarterbacks for one season at Cincinnati before joining Nick Saban's new staff at LSU in 2000. When Saban left for the NFL's Miami Dolphins Fisher remained at LSU to continue his role with Les Miles. At LSU he helped to develop a number of outstanding college quarterbacks, including Josh Booty, Rohan Davey, Matt Mauck and JaMarcus Russell.

Fisher interviewed for the head coaching position at the University of Alabama at Birmingham after the 2006 season but the Board of Trustees, which also governs the University of Alabama, vetoed the contract offer, sparking some controversy. He turned down an invitation from Nick Saban to join the coaching staff at the University of Alabama to sign a contract as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Florida State University. His contract initially guaranteed a base salary of $215,000 with incentives increasing the total package into the low $400,000 range. In a press release on December 10, 2007 Jimbo Fisher was named "head coach in waiting", making him the eventual successor for legendary Seminoles coach Bobby Bowden. The new contract paid Fisher around $600,000 per year with a $2.5 million buyout clause. The university promised to pay $5 million to Fisher if he was not made head coach by January 2011.

On December 1, 2009 Bowden announced that he would retire from coaching after the Seminoles' upcoming bowl game on New Year's Day 2010 against West Virginia in the Gator Bowl. Fisher began selecting his coaching staff and recruiting players while preparing the team for its bowl game for the last time as a Bowden assistant. The Seminoles sent Bowden out with a victory on January 1. Fisher held his first staff meeting the following afternoon. A few days later, on January 5, he officially became the ninth head football coach in Florida State history.

Head coach at Florida State
Jimbo Fisher's official introduction as head coach took place at a Florida State University press conference on 7 January 2010. "Empowered, confident athletes are winners," he said. "My goal is to get the structure, the staff and the support resources in place to facilitate a winning plan and get players into the structure and start effecting change. Now." Fisher then announced his 2010 coaching staff:
 * Rick Trickett, assistant head coach/offensive line
 * Eddie Gran, associate head coach, running backs and special teams coach
 * James Coley, offensive coordinator
 * Lawrence Dawsey, receivers coach, passing game coordinator
 * Dameyune Craig, quarterbacks coach, recruiting coordinator
 * Mark Stoops, defensive coordinator
 * Greg Hudson, linebackers coach and assistant head coach on defense
 * Darin Eliot, defensive ends coach
 * Odell Haggins, defensive line coach

Personal
Fisher and his wife Candi have two sons, Trey and Ethan. Fisher's brother, Bryan, is the offensive coordinator at Fairmont State University and his mother, Gloria, teaches chemistry at Robert C. Byrd High School in Clarksburg, WV.

Awards

 * 1987: Division III National Player of the Year
 * 2001: Broyles Assistant Coach of the Year Award finalist