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The Arizona Wildcats officially tabbed Jedd Fisch as their new head football coach on Wednesday.
The 44-year-old joins the program after more than 20 years of experience as an assistant coach at the college and NFL level, most recently serving as the quarterbacks coach with the New England Patriots.
Here is what UA folks, Fisch’s coaching peers, media members, former players and Fisch himself are saying about the hire:
Jedd Fisch: “I am honored and humbled to lead the University of Arizona football program. I am 100% committed to building a program that all Wildcat fans will be proud to support. We will study hard, compete hard, recruit hard and be relentless in all aspects of our program. I want to thank President Robbins and Dave Heeke for their belief in me and in my vision for Arizona Football and my family and I cannot wait to immerse ourselves in the UA and Tucson communities.”
Arizona athletic director Dave Heeke: “We are tremendously excited to have Jedd Fisch come to Tucson to reinvigorate our football program and lead us to championships. Jedd has a unique ability to teach the game of football effectively to his players and to inspire them with his passion. We conducted a comprehensive national search with an impressive array of candidates but in the end, Jedd is exactly what our program needs right now and I cannot wait to partner with him to move us forward.”
UA president Dr. Robert C. Robbins: “We are tremendously excited to have Jedd Fisch come to Tucson to reinvigorate our football program and lead us to championships,” said Heeke. “Jedd has a unique ability to teach the game of football effectively to his players and to inspire them with his passion. We conducted a comprehensive national search with an impressive array of candidates but in the end, Jedd is exactly what our program needs right now and I cannot wait to partner with him to move us forward.”
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick: ““Jedd Fisch is one of the most outstanding coaches I have worked with and was an excellent addition to our staff this year. Jedd has gained a wealth of experience in numerous organizations, in college and the NFL, and is ready to lead the Arizona program. Although we will miss his contributions here, we wish Jedd and Amber well at the University of Arizona, home to two of the greatest Patriots, Tedy Bruschi and Rob Gronkowski, as well as our current Wildcats, Nick Folk and J.J. Taylor.”
Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll: “Jedd was on my first staff with the Seahawks. I’ve followed his career closely over the years, and he is highly qualified for the job. Jedd is a gifted offensive mind, and he will do a great job leading and caring for the University of Arizona program.”
Sean McVay approves of @ArizonaFBall hiring Jedd Fisch: "Great coach. Great communicator. He’ll do an excellent job. He’s a relentless worker. He’s got great attention to detail. Really smart. Can really bring people together. I think people will like what they see at Arizona."
— Greg Beacham (@gregbeacham) December 23, 2020
Sean was also impressed that Jedd Fisch quoted Sean's father today: "That is my dad. When he was working at Cox Enterprises, he said, ‘We will compete with our products, but win with our people.’ So it’s a good one, man. Tim McVay has got some good quotes."
— Greg Beacham (@gregbeacham) December 23, 2020
Arizona AD Dave Heeke described his ideal candidate as someone "who has unbelievable passion and a fire inside their gut, inside their belly – for football, for this job, for this place, for U of A, this city and this state."
— Jon Wilner (@wilnerhotline) December 23, 2020
Jedd Fisch has no ties to Tucson or the school
Huge key for Fisch will be salary pool for assistants - he needs recruiters w west coast & Poly community ties. Arizona had lowest-paid staff in the P12 under Sumlin
— Jon Wilner (@wilnerhotline) December 23, 2020
Heard Jedd Fisch did very well in his meeting with Arizona presenting a strong pitch on developing QBs; offensive system; and his recruiting and staff plan. He’s expected to get announced as the Wildcats new head coach later this morning.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) December 23, 2020
While Jedd Fisch is not the hire I would have made for Arizona, I did hear good things about him this week. Also worth noting that Herm Edwards was an unpopular hire by ASU in 2017 + that has turned out well. Proof's in the pudding. Fisch does face an extreme uphill battle here.
— Michael Lev (@MichaelJLev) December 23, 2020
Optimism: Jedd Fisch has plenty of NFL experience and connections which could lead to a high quality staff. Also, people were lampooning the Herm Edwards hire at ASU and that seems to have worked out fine.
— Adam Green (@theAdamGreen) December 23, 2020
Pessimism: Pretty much everything else surrounding the hire.
Maybe Jedd Fisch is a bright offensive mind but if Arizona was trying to galvanize a fan base as they head into a serious few years of losing/rebuilding this was not the way to do it. https://t.co/bJeN9DwUle
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) December 23, 2020
I was excited about Arizona hiring Kevin Sumlin and that didn't work out well so maybe my lack of enthusiasm for Jedd Fisch means it will be fine. pic.twitter.com/Spl70QAtkS
— Adam Green (@theAdamGreen) December 23, 2020
Not that it's right, but even if Jedd Fisch has the makeup of a great head coach, if he's not on a Zoom with the hundreds of Arizona alums in the next few hours before his intro, can't see this going well.
— Kevin Zimmerman (@KZimmermanAZ) December 23, 2020
Arizona's hiring of Jedd Fisch is being heavily criticized this morning. But, the two most criticized hires in the Pac-12 in recent years were ASU's Herm Edwards (17-13, bowl eligible 3 times in 3 years) and Colorado's Karl Dorrell (4-1, Pac-12 COY).
— Brian Howell (@BrianHowell33) December 23, 2020
Nobody has any idea whether any hire will work out or not, but hiring Jedd Fisch in 2020? Terry Bowden? It’s just not imaginative. Nobody thinks, “Wow, Arizona and ULM are really on to something that’s going to make up for their massive disadvantages”
— Alex Kirshner (@alex_kirshner) December 23, 2020
Last week we were told by @Dave_Heeke it was our program as alums. We just found out otherwise. This hire goes against his words that day talking about who would lead @ArizonaFBall.I’m too emotional to say anything else. Not happy with @UArizonaPres would be an understatement
— Barrett Baker (@BarrettBaker27) December 23, 2020
Don't know how this will turn out for us. But also not sure why @UArizonaPres & @Dave_Heeke would reach out to alumni to get input and then do the exact opposite. I hope this ends up well but kind of a slap in the face to all of the alumni.
— Matt Scott (@mscottqb10) December 23, 2020
How do you fumble the bag this much? Damn shame,burried your own grave again.
— Scooby Wright III (@TwoStarScoob) December 23, 2020
I am announcing that I am entering the alumni transfer portal and I’ve decided to take my talents to @CoastalFootball
— Scooby Wright III (@TwoStarScoob) December 23, 2020
They basically said. Let’s continue the streak
— Trevin Wade (@TwoStarWade) December 23, 2020
Congrats @CoachJeddFisch! Pac 12 gets a great one!
— Matt Leinart (@MattLeinartQB) December 23, 2020
here is my Stat Of The Day
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) December 23, 2020
Since 2010, only 33 NFL QBs have managed to start 8 games and throw more INTs than TDs
4 of the 33 have had Jedd Fisch a QB coach or OC
In 6 seasons coaching 4 NFL teams, the only Fisch QB who did not throw more INTs than TDs is Jared Goff https://t.co/zpn09ndCIy
My guess is Fisch is also going to get a lot of the folks out of the portal. He cleaned up Michigan's passing game and his '17 UCLA offense was #6 in Effective Pass in Beta_Rank. pic.twitter.com/nKcnhnMb51
— Rob Bowron (@beta_rank_fb) December 23, 2020
I am at awe right now with this decision, after all the words expressed....
— Kyle Day (@CoachDay_WG) December 23, 2020
Smh! @ArizonaFBall
— Robert Golden (@R0bG0lden) December 24, 2020
Welcome to the Cats House Coach Fisch! I stand behind our alumni group and our fan to help support our program! #WeWillRise #DefendTheA https://t.co/EHOZZPbrLJ
— Brandon Sanders (@coachBSanders18) December 23, 2020
The decision is done. Didn't know much about @CoachJeddFisch until now, but I like where his head is at. Time for us to rally around him and get UA football back on track. He wants to build the program on accountability, respect & selflessness. And he wants UA blood on staff ⬇️
— Jared T., MSF (@TucTownTevis) December 23, 2020
Initial impression of Jedd Fisch at his introductory press conference of @ArizonaFBall is impressive. Excellent communicator and extremely well prepared.
— Roxy Bernstein (@roxybernstein) December 23, 2020