Washington hires Arizona’s Jedd Fisch to be new head coach after Kalen DeBoer left Huskies to replace Nick Saban at Alabama earlier this week

Washington took around 48 hours to find a new head coach, and has named Arizona’s Jedd Fisch to the Huskies’ helm.  

Fisch stays with a former Pac-12 program in making the move away from the Wildcats. He replaces Kalen DeBoer, who left Washington on Friday to become the new head coach at Alabama after it was announced legendary coach Nick Saban was retiring. 

Washington will play its first season as members of the Big Ten Conference in the fall. 

Less than a week ago, the Huskies were undefeated and going over final preparations for the CFP National Championship with DeBoer at the helm. Michigan defeated Washington 34-13 on Monday. 

On Wednesday, Saban retired from coaching, with DeBoer quickly being named as a target of the Crimson Tide’s search for a new leader. 

Fisch is set to make nearly $8 million per year as Washington’s next head football coach

Washington athletic director Troy Dannen uploaded a video to X of Fisch signing his contract on Sunday night. 

With most of Washington’s assistant coaches also going with DeBoer to Alabama, Fisch will almost start from scratch with the national runner-up. 

The Huskies have yet to officially announce the move, Fisch is set to sign a seven-year deal for an average of $7.75 million a year, per The Athletic. 

Fisch has ties to the Pacific Northwest, spending one season under Pete Carroll as the Seattle Seahawks’ quarterbacks coach in 2010. 

Fisch took over the Wildcats on a 12-game losing streak and lost his first eight games at the helm. 

Two seasons ago saw Arizona improve to 5-7, before a breakthrough 2023. Fisch led Arizona to 10-3 and an Alamo Bowl victory over Oklahoma. 

One of those three Wildcat losses came by a touchdown to Washington. 

Fisch won’t face his former school this year, as the Wildcats will join the Big 12 Conference in place of the dissolved Pac-12.