To say it’s been a positive last 48 hours for the Florida State football program would be an understatement.
Sunday, it was announced that star quarterback Jameis Winston would not face any punitive measures stemming from his student code of contract hearing. Two days later, and as had been rumored for roughly a week, FSU inked its head football coach to a shiny new deal.
Tuesday afternoon, FSU athletic director Stan Wilcox announced that the school and Jimbo Fisher have agreed to a new eight-year contract that will run through the 2022 season. The release also states that “Fisher’s new contract will include an increase in salary that will make him one of college football’s highest paid coaches,” although no financial particulars have been released.
It was reported last week that Fisher’s new contract would make him one of the five highest-paid head coaches in college football. If that’s the case, Fisher’s new deal would average in excess of $5 million annually as Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops ($5.058 million), Texas A&M’s Kevin Sumlin ($5.006 million) and Texas’ Charlie Strong ($5 million) sit at Nos. 3-5, respectively. It’s believed the deal could average as much as $5.5 million annually, which would put Fisher at No. 2 behind Alabama’s Nick Saban ($7.16 million). Michigan State’s Mark Dantonio was technically second in coaching pay in 2014 at $5.6 million, although $2 million of that total came in the form of a one-time retention bonus.
Fisher earned just under $3.6 million in 2014, which placed him 14th in the USA Today coaches salary database.
“I am pleased that we have been able to secure Coach Fisher as our head coach for the long term,” said Wilcox in a statement. “The commitment we are making to him is a reflection of the outstanding job he has done in leading our program to its current level of excellence. While we are delighted with the undefeated season this year and our upcoming appearance in the inaugural College Football Playoff, we began working on this new contract before the success of this past season was in full view. It is a great day for Florida State.”
Since 2012, Fisher’s Seminoles have gone 39-2 and won three straight ACC titles. Riding a school-record 29-game winning streak, FSU will look to win back-to-back national championships, having claimed the final BCS title following the 2013 season.
The Seminoles and Ducks will square off in the Jan. 1 Rose Bowl, with the winner facing the winner of the Alabama-Ohio State Sugar Bowl the same day in the first-ever College Football Playoff championship game.
“I am honored to be the head coach at Florida State University, which I’ve said many times before,” Fisher said. “I appreciate that FSU believes in what we are doing and supports our goal of maintaining one of the best programs in the country. It is a privilege to coach the young men in our program. It is truly a family.
“Florida State is a very special place. I appreciate the support of the administration in accomplishing some great things. We have improved in a number of areas over the years, and the commitment to providing the very best in academics, facilities and maturation and growth opportunities for our young men has been key to our success. I look forward to continuing to build on what we are establishing.”