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Hard work was a family value in the Clarksburg, West Virginia home where Jimbo Fisher was raised; the oldest son of a coal miner and a teacher. Applying those lessons instilled at an early age served Fisher well both athletically and professionally and ultimately delivered him to Florida State University, where he was elevated to head football coach on January 5, 2010.
A veteran of 22 seasons as a college assistant, including three as FSU’s offensive coordinator, Fisher succeeded Bobby Bowden – the second winningest coach in major college football – as the Seminoles’ ninth head coach and first new one in 35 years.
In just over a year, he has helped deliver the Seminoles back to a place of national prominence. Boasting a final ranking of No. 16 in the USA Today Coaches Poll, Fisher led his team to the 2010 Chick-fil-A Bowl Championship with a 26-17 win over then No. 19 South Carolina. His first season also included a season sweep of in-state rivals Miami and Florida, an ACC Atlantic Division title and the program’s first 10-win season since 2003 as the Seminoles finished 10-4. In just his first season as a head coach, Fisher won the most games (10) by a first-year coach in Florida State history and the third-most by a rookie coach in ACC history. He was named the 2010 Football Writer’s Association of America’s Freshman All-America Team Coach.
Three of his players in 2010 earned All-America honors in offensive guard Rodney Hudson (consensus All-America selection), defensive end Brandon Jenkins and cornerback Xavier Rhodes. Rhodes was named the ACC Rookie of the Year and National Defensive Freshman of the Year. Fisher capped off the 2010 season with three seniors selected in the 2011 NFL Draft led by quarterback Christian Ponder – the No. 12 overall pick in the draft by the Minnesota Vikings. Ponder became the highest offensive player to go for the ‘Noles since offensive lineman Alex Barron in 2005. Before Ponder, Gary Huff was the highest drafted FSU QB as the 33rd overall pick in the second round of the 1973 draft.
Fisher carried the success of his first season onto the recruiting trail as he put together a 2011 recruiting class ranked either first or second nationally by ESPN.com, Scout.com and Rivals.com.
“It is not a common man that I introduce you to today as our head football coach,” FSU Director of Athletics Randy Spetman said at Fisher’s formal introduction. “A common man would not have the courage, patience and determination to follow the greatest college football coach in history. A common man would find it too challenging to accept the coach-in-waiting role and ignore openings at other top-flight programs. A common man could not have rekindled the Seminoles spirit, excitement and vision so quickly.”
Few embody the “unconquered spirit” that defines the Seminole Nation as well as Fisher, whose best attributes include a relentless work ethic, the passionate pursuit of perfection, a keen vision for the long range future as well as a sense of place for his faith, family and football.
“I’ve been preparing for this day for a long time,” Fisher said at his introductory press conference. “I’ve been fortunate in my life to be around a lot of successful people that I have learned many, many things from. But I think the greatest thing that I’ve learned from them is I have to be myself. I must do things the way I want to do them, do what got me here and remember the reasons why I am here.”
Fisher has not wasted any time putting his stamp on the Seminoles. From assembling a staff of energetic, ambitious assistants, to dramatically overhauling the program’s infrastructure, he has left no stone unturned. His attention to every aspect of the program – from strength & conditioning, nutrition, mental training, academic support, talent evaluation and recruiting, player development and peer mentoring among teammates – is centered on establishing an unshakeable foundation that emphasizes the whole development of each player.
“You have to remember, there are so many good athletes out there,” Fisher said during his first spring tour of Seminole Booster clubs. “I believe the key is player development. We must develop our players as people first, then everything else will take care of itself.”
Fisher has carefully crafted his vision for the Seminoles through 19 seasons as a full-time, college assistant. Nick Saban and Bobby Bowden, each of whom have won two national championships and authored perfect seasons, have been the most influential coaches in his career.
Yet the greatest influences in Fisher’s life have been his parents, John James and Gloria Fisher. His late father, a coal miner and farmer who demanded accountability from sons Jimbo and Bryan, helped them understand the value of hard work from an early age. Those lessons extended beyond the family farm and home and onto the fields and courts as a promising young football, basketball and baseball player.
“My dad was probably as much an influence as anyone because he always tried to make me think the game,” Fisher said. “I was always a kid that when I played youth sports, I always played up (an age group). I was the young guy who always had to play against the older kids. Everybody would say, `Well, they’re bigger and faster.’ I said, `So? All you have to do is win. Out-think them.’
“At an early age I was always intrigued about why things happened. I wasn’t the kid that just played and forgot it. I always wanted to know why it worked. I thought about it all the time.”
By the time Fisher reached junior high school and became the starting quarterback, he was calling plays in the huddle. And win or lose, the car rides home with his father always included a critique of what transpired on the field.
“My feet were to the fire every time I played because my father was like that,” Fisher said. “He never let you dwell on the things you did well. He’d remind you that you did well, but would ask, `Why did you do that?’ … He was always honest. He never told me what I wanted to hear. He always told me the truth. That’s a message I try to tell our players.”
Fisher learned about tough-love from his father, but his future was also shaped by his mother, Gloria, who just completed her 51st year teaching high school chemistry. It was Gloria who made sure that her son escaped from a life in the coal mines and followed his dream after an all-state career at Liberty High School.
“I always knew I was going to play or coach,” Fisher said. “I’ve known it as far back as I can remember.”
After a one-semester stop at Clemson, where he was going to play baseball, Fisher returned home to Salem College in West Virginia. He starred for three seasons at quarterback, establishing a school and conference record for career passing yardage.
A two-time conference player of the year and an All-American in his final season at Salem, Fisher transferred to Samford College in Birmingham, Alabama for his final season of eligibility. He enjoyed a record-setting season in 1987 with the Bulldogs, earning NCAA Division III National Player of the Year honors, which he parlayed into a season with the Chicago Bruisers of the Arena Football League.
In 1993, Fisher joined the staff at Auburn and over the next 14 seasons, including stops at Cincinnati and LSU, he built a reputation as a keen play-caller whose development of quarterbacks was second-to-none in major college football. His list of standout pupils included record-setters Stan White, Patrick Nix and Dameyune Craig, who is the lone 3,000-yard passer in Auburn history. After guiding Cincinnati to one of its most prolific seasons in a one-year stint, he joined Saban’s staff at LSU. Over the course of a seven-year run with the Tigers, quarterbacks Josh Booty, Rohan Davey, Craig Nall, Matt Mauck, JaMarcus Russell and Matt Flynn were selected in the NFL Draft. Russell, who was the first player selected in the 2007 NFL Draft, and Davey remain the only 3,000-yard passers in LSU history.
LSU made seven consecutive bowl appearances, won two SEC titles, posted a 70-20 record and won the 2003 BCS National Championship with Fisher as its offensive coordinator. He was a finalist for the 2001 Frank Broyles Award, presented to the nation’s top assistant coach.
Fisher accepted Bobby Bowden’s invitation to join the Florida State staff as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in January 2007 and by the end of his first year, was tabbed as Bowden’s successor upon retirement. The quick ascent followed a similar arc to the Seminoles’ offense, which has improved statistically in each of his four seasons.
Along the way he has significantly impacted FSU’s recruiting, been instrumental in the development of quarterbacks Christian Ponder and EJ Manuel and set the table for the inevitable transition to the seat occupied by Bowden since 1976. The time as a coach-in-waiting allowed him the opportunity to closely evaluate the players and program as a whole; what changes needed to be made and how to work the proper channels to get that accomplished.
“Sometimes it takes (new coaches) a year to figure out who has control of what; whose toes you’re stepping on and what has to change,” Fisher said. “The timetable (provided) and the ability to know where to go and how to handle each situation was one of the biggest benefits to me.”
Fisher moved swiftly assembling his staff, retaining four assistants – Rick Trickett, James Coley, Lawrence Dawsey and Odell Haggins – while adding five new ones. Eddie Gran, Mark Stoops, Greg Hudson, Dameyune Craig and D.J. Eliot clearly reflect Fisher’s image: young and energetic with proven track records for recruiting and a history of winning. Collectively the average age of his staff is just under 40 and yet brings nearly 80 years of experience to the table. They have coached in four of the six BCS conferences – SEC, Pac-12, Big Ten and Big East – as well as Conference USA, WAC and Notre Dame.
Fisher had crossed paths with many of them throughout his career, including strength & conditioning coach Vic Viloria, who heads up a large staff dedicated to football; more than tripling the size of the previous staff.
Fisher and all of his assistants coaches are married with children so having family involved with the football program is a priority to the second-year head coach.
“Family is very important to me,” said Fisher. “My wife and my children are the reasons I am able to do what I do.”
Candi Fisher and their sons, Trey and Ethan, are regular visitors in the football office and on the practice field. So, too are the spouses and children of other members of the FSU coaching staff.
“I think a coach’s family is the key to good coaching,” Fisher said. “When you have a happy family and they’re important, it makes for better coaches.
“Our staff is a big family and a lot of times it’s the only family you have, because in this world of coaching the staff and their families have to stick together. We’re people who have a lot of the same values and principles about family. It just seems to work better. Family is a huge part of my life and I look at our staff as our extended family.”
In the same sense, Fisher treats his players very much like his own, challenging, praising, even admonishing, when necessary. It is all in an attempt to help each and every one reach their full potential as student-athletes and responsible young adults, thus strengthening the team one player at a time.
He firmly believes that it takes a keen ability to focus on the task at hand to fulfill, not only their individual potential, but the collective result as teammates.
“The biggest thing a player has to understand is that he has to control what he can control,” Fisher said. “He can’t get caught up in the outside distractions. As crazy as it sounds – and it’s contradictory to a point – you can’t worry about winning. We’re competing to win, but how do we win? …
“We all say there is no `I’ in team, but there is an `I’ in win. You have to be the best you can be and do your job so you can be accountable, so your team can win. Then you start affecting other players.”
Fisher wants relentless competitors to define his Florida State program; players who are immune to adversity.
As a hands-on head coach who will continue to work with the quarterbacks and call plays, Fisher will remain a vocal presence on the field, while balancing a myriad of off-the-field responsibilities as he continues to shape the Florida State program in his own image.
Fisher will do that with a sense of responsibility and appreciation for Florida State’s rich past and the men – Bowden and the players who have come before those he coaches today – who have built the program. Not surprisingly, he has welcomed those players back with open arms in an effort to bridge the past with the present and future.
“There is such a great desire to be successful here,” Fisher said. “That feeling is shared by our family, our student body, our alumni, our players and the ex-coaches that have made it that way. We won’t be any different. I have stated before, there are many approaches to doing things. I will have my own philosophies on things. I will do things in many different ways, but as long as the core values and principles don’t change, to me, then tradition doesn’t change.”
It’s that rich tradition that drew Fisher to Florida State and his time under Bowden. Now it is time to build on it.
“History is our greatest teacher and it always will be,” Fisher said. “We’re not asking to do things that have never been done here before. We’re just asking to go back where they should be. With a little bit of hard work, as an old guy used to tell me, the secret to success is that there is no secret. The secret to success is hard work. Have your plan, be yourself, do what you think is right, do what got you here. That won a guy 389 games. Hopefully it will win me a bunch.”
The Fisher File
Birthdate: October 9, 1965
Hometown:Clarksburg, WV
College: Salem (W.Va.) ’89
Family: wife, Candi Fisher; sons Trey (10) and Ethan (6).
Coaching Background
• Named the 2010 Football Writer’s Association of America’s Freshman All-America Team Coach
• Won the most games (10) by a first-year coach in Florida State history and the third-most by a rookie coach in ACC history
• Put together a 2011 recruiting class ranked either first or second nationally by ESPN.com, Scout.com and Rivals.com
• Led FSU to its 29th consecutive bowl appearance – the longest active streak in the nation and second all-time to Nebraska’s 35.
• Led FSU to first ACC Atlantic Division title since 2005 and first season sweep of Miami and Florida since 1999. In posting the first season sweep of in-state rivals Florida and Miami, joined former Florida coaches Ray Graves (1960) and Galen Hall (1985) to pull off the feat as a first-year coach. The 52-point combined margin of victory over the rival Hurricanes and Gators was the widest margin in a season sweep by the Seminoles
• Guided FSU to its best home record (6-1) since posting 6-0 marks at Doak Campbell Stadium in 1999 and 2000
• By winning six of his first seven games, joined former FSU coaches Don Veller (`48) and Larry Jones (`71) to notch that feat as a first-year coach with the `Noles.
• Responsible for developing FSU QB Christian Ponder who, as a second-year starter, led the ACC in total offense and passing yards per game in 2009. Ponder capped off his senior season in 2010 by becoming the 12th overall pick of the Minnesota Vikings in the 2011 NFL Draft.
• As FSU’s offensive coordinator from 2007-09, the Seminoles improved each season to rank among the ACC leaders in total offense
• Offensive coordinator for the 2003 National Champion LSU Tigers
• Coached three players selected in the first round of the 2007 NFL draft including No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell
• Coached five quarterbacks in seven years at LSU that were NFL draft picks (Josh Booty, Rohan Davey, Craig Nall, Matt Mauck and JaMarcus Russell)
• Tigers posted a 70-20 record and went to seven bowl games with Fisher as offensive coordinator. The 70 wins were the most over any seven-year stretch in LSU history as were the seven consecutive bowl appearances
• While at LSU the Tigers won two SEC titles and played in three BCS Bowl games including winning the national title in the 2004 Nokia Sugar Bowl
• Named a finalist for the Frank Broyles Award in 2001 as the nation’s top assistant coach
• Coached the only two 3,000-yard passers in LSU history (Russell and Davey)
• Coached the only 3,000 yard passer in the history of Auburn football (Dameyune Craig)
• In 1999, his offense at Cincinnati was ranked 16th in the NCAA
• Played quarterback at Salem College (1984-86) and at Samford in 1987 under Terry Bowden
• Set the school record at Samford with 34 passing touchdowns and was named the Division III National Player of the Year in 1987
• Played for the Chicago Bruisers of the Arena Football League in 1988
Fisher’s Coaching Ledger
| Year | School | Position | W-L | Postseason |
| 1988 | Samford | SA/QB | 5-6 | |
| 1989 | Samford | SA/QB | 4-7 | |
| 1990 | Samford | GA/QB | 6-4-1 | |
| 1991 | Samford | OC/QB | 12-2 | NCAA I-AA |
| 1992 | Samford | OC/QB | 9-3 | NCAA I-AA |
| 1993 | Auburn | QB | 11-0 | |
| 1994 | Auburn | QB | 9-1-1 | |
| 1995 | Auburn | QB | 8-4 | Outback |
| 1996 | Auburn | QB | 8-4 | Independence |
| 1997 | Auburn | QB | 10-3 | Peach |
| 1998 | Auburn | QB | 3-8 | |
| 1999 | Cincinnati | OC/QB | 3-8 | |
| 2000 | LSU | OC/QB | 8-4 | Peach |
| 2001 | LSU | OC/QB | 10-3 | Sugar |
| 2002 | LSU | OC/QB | 8-5 | Cotton |
| 2003 | LSU | OC/QB | 13-1 | Sugar |
| 2004 | LSU | OC/QB | 9-3 | Capital One |
| 2005 | LSU | OC/QB | 11-2 | Peach |
| 2006 | LSU | OC/QB | 11-2 | Sugar |
| 2007 | Florida State | OC/QB | 7-6 | Music City |
| 2008 | Florida State | OC/QB | 9-4 | Champs |
| 2009 | Florida State | OC/QB | 7-6 | Gator |
| 2010 | Florida State | HC | 10-4 | Chick-fil-A |