Five reasons why Jedd Fisch is perfect to rebuild Washington

The University of Washington will enter uncharted waters when it opens the 2024 season at home on Saturday versus Weber State. After a school-best 14-1 record in 2023, the Huskies turn to new head coach Jedd Fisch to be the architect of their rebuild.

Here are five reasons why Fisch is the right fit for the job and how he will succeed in reconstructing the Huskies football program.

Fisch’s extensive coaching experience

Fisch brings 24 years of coaching experience across the NFL and college football. His coaching history includes roles with both contending teams and those needing a complete overhaul. Fisch’s vast experience will be crucial as he tackles the challenge of designing and executing a rebuild of Washington’s football program.

He is a student of some of the 21st century’s greatest football minds

Before Arizona, Fisch served as the quarterbacks coach with the New England Patriots under head coach Bill Belichick. He previously served as an offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach or assistant under Sean McVay, Brian Billick, Jim Harbaugh, Mike Shanahan and Pete Carroll and as a quality control assistant with Dom Capers.

He started at the collegiate level, acting as a graduate assistant at the University of Florida under Steve Spurrier.

If anyone can steer a college football program in the right direction, it’s Fisch. From Capers’ extensive knowledge of defensive schemes to Shanahan and McVay’s offensive creativity, he has been mentored by the best in every facet of the game.

Fisch knows how to build a program by recruiting

According to 247Sports, while at Arizona, Fisch was responsible for three recruiting classes. That year, each class was ranked among the top 100 nationwide. The rankings are as follows: 75th overall (2021), 25th (2022), and 51st (2023).

Strong recruitment skills would be essential for whoever stepped in as the new head football coach. The Huskies have lost nearly 40 players including every starting player on offense.

Fisch isn’t assigned with a roster retooling; this is a complete rebuild. The Huskies are more comparable to an expansion team, starting with next to nothing. 

He took a one-win Arizona team and turned it into a bowl winner within three seasons. That is a testament to his recruiting and team-building skills.

Fisch’s modern offense fits in well with the Big Ten

Fisch’s balanced, pass-first offense aligns well with the Big Ten’s evolving style of play. The conference now features more high-powered offenses and Fisch’s modern spread concepts should help Washington adapt. Although the Huskies may lack the personnel to compete immediately, Fisch’s offense, which averaged 34.6 points per game at Arizona in 2023 (ranked 18th out of 133 FBS schools), is designed for high-scoring games. 

It’s all about competition

Fisch’s coaching philosophy emphasizes competition. Regardless of a player’s ranking or past accolades, everyone must earn their spot. When asked about the starting quarterback position, Fisch stated that no starting roles are guaranteed, fostering a competitive environment. This approach ensures that only the most qualified players take the field, preventing complacency and inspiring performance.

Jedd Fisch has a massive task ahead of him. Rebuilding a football program from the ground up is no small feat. His experience, recruitment skills, modern-style offense and coaching philosophy make him the perfect fit for the job.