Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher. (Photo Credit: Maria Lysaker, USA TODAY Sports)
On Sunday morning, Texas A&M made a big decision by parting ways with coach Jimbo Fisher, setting a new standard for coaching departures and creating an exciting coaching opportunity.
Record Buyout and Contract Terms
The school expects to spend more than $76 million to terminate Fisher’s contract, which is almost triple the highest-known coaching contract buyouts at a public school.
According to the contract terms, Texas A&M will need to pay Fisher $19.2 million within 60 days, followed by annual payments of $7.2 million until 2031. These payments have no reductions or offsets, and they commence 120 days after termination.
Reasons for Fisher’s Dismissal
Texas A&M Athletic Director Ross Bjork explained, “After very careful analysis of all the factors related to Texas A&M football, I recommended to President Mark Welsh and then Chancellor John Sharp that a change in the program’s leadership was necessary for Aggie football to reach its full potential. They accepted my recommendation. We appreciate Coach Fisher’s time at Texas A&M, and we wish him the best in his future endeavors.”
Jimbo Fisher’s six-season tenure at Texas A&M yielded a record of 45-25, and he signed a lucrative 10-year contract with $95 million guaranteed in 2021. To discourage Fisher from moving to LSU, they offered this contract.
The decision to part ways with Fisher was made before the recent victory against Mississippi State on Saturday, where Texas A&M won 51-10. It was conveyed to Fisher in a Sunday morning meeting, and Associate Head Coach Elijah Robinson will take over as the interim coach for the Aggies.
This process began in a Texas A&M Board of Regents meeting on Thursday and involved a four-hour executive session to discuss Fisher’s future.
Player Transfers and Impact
The timing of the decision, made so close to a game, meant that Texas A&M will not have the opportunity to finish the season at 8-4 under Fisher. Sources highlight the considerable talent at Texas A&M and its active participation in the NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) landscape.
Since their Orange Bowl victory and No. 4 finish in the Associated Press poll in 2020, Texas A&M’s performance declined, with a record of 19-15. They did not win the SEC West or make it to the College Football Playoff during Fisher’s tenure.
Choosing the next head coach for Texas A&M will be a significant decision, as the school boasts considerable resources but has struggled to achieve national prominence in college football.
Names like Oregon’s Dan Lanning and Washington’s Kalen DeBoer are emerging as possible candidates for the Aggies’ next coach.
After Fisher’s dismissal, Texas A&M players will have a 30-day window to enter the transfer portal, and some have already expressed their intention to do so. Freshman wide receiver Raymond Cottrell is among those entering the portal.
Texas A&M’s Football History
Notably, Texas A&M has not won a conference championship since 1998 when they were part of the Big 12. Jimbo Fisher is the fourth consecutive head coach at Texas A&M to fall short of winning a conference championship.
Since joining the SEC in 2012, Texas A&M has not won the SEC West to play in the SEC title game. Their only 10-plus win season in the SEC came in 2012, with a 9-1 record in the shortened 2020 season.
Despite having the ninth-ranked recruiting class in the country, according to ESPN’s rankings, Texas A&M has been perceived as underachieving, even being likened to an “NFL-level roster” by Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin.
Recruiting Class and Expectations
Texas A&M’s inability to meet expectations led to their willingness to pay a record-breaking buyout for Fisher, surpassing the previous high buyout when Auburn fired Gus Malzahn in 2020 for $21.7 million.
When factoring in potential staff buyouts and the expenses associated with bringing in a new coaching staff, the cost of this coaching transition could exceed $100 million.
This report used information from ESPN.
