Report: Jimbo Fisher Leaving FSU for Texas A&M

TALLAHASSEE — Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher is leaving Tallahassee for Texas A&M, according to a report from the Tallahassee Democrat.

Fisher repeatedly declined to comment on the job opening, despite the FSU administration’s repeated assurances that the head coach would remain at the university. News of A&M offering the head coach initially broke on Nov. 26. Rumors had been swirling earlier that week of potential interest between the two parties.

The exact numbers of Fisher’s contract are unknown at the time, but a 10-year, $75 million contract has been reported by other outlets.

Tensions between Fisher, the fans and the university seemingly reached a breaking point on Wednesday night, when three blue-chip recruits de-committed from FSU in less than three hours. That evening, a fan was escorted out of Fisher’s weekly call-in show for pressing the coach about his “loyalty to the program.”

Fisher was promoted to head coach following Bobby Bowden’s forced resignation after FSU’s Gator Bowl victory at the end of the 2009 season. At the time of his departure, Fisher is the fifth-winningest active head coach in NCAA Division I and is one of only four active head coaches with a national championship to his name at the FBS level.

Fisher’s relationship with FSU boosters recently faltered after the head coach repeatedly expressed frustration during press conferences with the lack of funding for a football-only facility. The Tallahassee Democrat reported that Fisher had tense relationships with numerous individuals within the FSU administration:

“The football coach has three key relationships,” one of those sources said. “The president of the university, the athletics director and the president of the Boosters.” 

“Only one of those is healthy.”

That one healthy relationship is between Fisher and FSU President John Thrasher, hired in 2014.

– Jim Henry, Tallahassee Democrat sports editor

FSU enters the job search market for the first time since before Bobby Bowden’s hire prior to the 1976 season, but has reportedly narrowed down its coaching search.

The university is expected to go after Oregon head coach Willie Taggart and Virginia Tech head coach Justin Fuente, according to multiple reports. Sports Illustrated’s Andy Staples reported that Taggart was recently offered a new $20 million contract in an effort to keep him in Eugene through the 2022 season.

The news of Fisher’s departure comes at the tail end of his worst season since taking over for Bowden back in 2010. After falling to Alabama in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game and losing starting quarterback Deondre Francois for the season, FSU has limped to a 5-6 record, falling to rivals Miami and Clemson.

FSU needs to win a rescheduled game against Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday to save bowl-eligibility. Defensive tackles coach Odell Haggins will be the interim.

Follow The Daily Nole on Twitter for updates as news continues to break.