Aftershocks of HC Jedd Fisch's departure rattling Arizona
The abrupt departure of head football coach Jedd Fisch for Washington has Arizona Wildcats supporters fuming.
On Saturday, Fisch had agreed to a restructured contract with a pay boost with Arizona, per the Arizona Daily Star. By Sunday, he was gone after agreeing to become Washington's head coach.
Players swiftly took to social media to express anger and frustration.
Washington athletic director Troy Dannen flew to Tucson to complete the deal at Fisch's Tucson house, which had a "Go Cats" sign next to the front door.
Les Fifita — the father of starting quarterback Noah Fifita — released a statement that encapsulated the rollercoaster journey experienced by families of Arizona players.
Arizona supporters are justified in their frustration. They supported Fisch and the program through a challenging one-win season in 2021 and a modest five-win season in 2022. In 2023, Arizona — which moves to the Big 12 next season — celebrated a 10-win season, its first since 2014.
The prospect of making the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history, buoyed by the expanded 12-team format for the next season, now appears highly problematic.
It's conceivable Fisch could take many players with him to Washington via the transfer portal. Standout running back Jonah Coleman has already put his name in the portal.
Now, the focus shifts to the urgent task of finding a new head coach. The program is in a race against time to secure a suitable replacement and retain as many players as possible.
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