Jimbo Fisher, who led Texas A&M for six seasons, was sacked as coach, the institution confirmed. Before Texas A&M’s Week 11 victory over Mississippi State, the university regents decided on an executive session on Thursday, according to TexAgs.
Jimbo Fisher isn’t an NFL coach at this time. However, the news of his impending firing from Texas A&M will reverberate across the sport’s upper echelons.
Jimbo Fisher is anticipated to be fired by Texas A&M today, according to numerous reports. Fisher will also receive a buyout of $76 million.
Considering that buyout, the Aggies won’t be taking as big of a financial blow-up front as you might imagine, despite the enormous sum in total. Twenty percent of the buyout, or about $19.2 million, is Fisher’s to receive within 30 days. The remaining amount will be paid to Fisher per year for the next eight years, or about $7.2 million.
That is perhaps the largest buyout for a coach, professional or collegiate. It might cause NFL coaches to reconsider accepting a college position and the enormous contract—and possible buyout—that would accompany it.
After joining Texas A&M in 2018, he has amassed a 45–25 record and three bowl victories. Looking back to last season, the team’s record in its previous 18 games was 8–10.
Jimbo Fisher's buyout is around $75 million, guaranteed.
The previous record buyout paid to a college coach was $21.45 million by Auburn to Gus Malzahn.
This is another stratosphere.
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) November 12, 2023
Jimbo Fisher was previously enticed to leave Florida State, the site of his 2013 national championship victory, with a large 10-year contract that was completely guaranteed after the 2017 campaign.
Following rumors that surfaced on social media across the morning, indicating that the decision was made following a four-hour meeting of the Texas A&M board of regents on Thursday, athletic director Ross Bjork issued a statement recommending to President (Mark A.) Welsh and Chancellor (John Sharp) that a change in the program’s leadership was required for Aggie football to reach its full potential. Bjork’s recommendation was accepted.
Bjork went on to say that they valued Coach Jimbo Fisher’s tenure at Texas A&M and wished him luck in all of his future pursuits.
A source familiar with the talks asserts that no public monies will be used to complete the big deal. A&M keeps its institutional finances and athletics monies apart. Large college football teams often use donor monies to buy out their head coaches. The university athletics staff was contacted by the Texas A&M University System, but it did not immediately reply to a request for comment. The decision will be discussed at a press conference on Sunday at 5 p.m.
Texas A&M has gone 19–15 since winning the Orange Bowl and placing fourth in the Associated Press poll in 2020. Under Jimbo Fisher’s leadership, the Aggies have neither participated in the College Football Playoffs nor won the SEC West.
Texas A&M, a school with some of the best resources in college football, will go off against another school that has a history of underutilizing its resources when it comes to recruiting at the highest level of the game.
Coaches Fired Other Than Jimbo Fisher
As a result of his performance, Fisher became the first Power Five coach fired this season. Mel Tucker was let go by Michigan State in September after a sexual misconduct probe. Similar to Fisher, Tucker recently signed a new contract worth $95 million. But by dismissing Tucker for good reason, Michigan State can avoid having to pay the remaining $80 million on the contract, which is valid until 2031.
Kevin Sumlin, who had a 51-26 record in six seasons including a 7-5 record in 2017, was fired with one game remaining. Fisher was brought in to take his place. However, Sumlin went 11-2 in his first season after Johnny Manziel achieved the Heisman Trophy, and Fisher didn’t even come close to matching his level of success, much less leading the team.
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