O.C. Prospect: Jimbo Fisher

One of the names being discussed as the person to replace Jeff Bowden at offensive coordinator is Jimbo Fisher. Fisher is the offensive coordinator for the LSU Tigers and enters his seventh season as LSU’s offensive coordinator in 2006. During his previous six years with the Tigers, he has established himself as one of the nation’s top offensive minds, while also serving as one of the school’s top recruiters.

Fisher joined the Tigers in 2000 and during that six-year span, Fisher has been a part of 59 victories, two Southeastern Conference titles and the 2003 BCS National Championship. The 59 victories since the 2000 season are the most in LSU history over any six-year period of the program, while the Tigers’ streak of six consecutive bowl games is a school record.

Since 2000, Fisher’s offense’s have set numerous school records, including points in a season (475 in 2003), total yards (5,857 in 2003), and passing touchdowns (30 in 2003). Fisher’s offenses currently hold 13 LSU school records.

Fisher’s success at LSU has come by blending together an offense that features both the passing and running games with an emphasis on putting the ball in the hands of the best players.

Considered an expert in the passing game, LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell thrived under Fisher’s tutelage in 2005 as the sophomore passed for 2,443 yards and 15 touchdowns in leading the Tigers to the SEC title game. Four times in 2005, Russell led the Tigers to comeback wins in either the fourth quarter or overtime, which included a win over Alabama on the final play of the game.

Prior to joining the Tigers, Fisher engineered one of the nation's most potent offensive attacks at Cincinnati in 1999. Cincinnati finished the 1999 season ranked No. 16 in the nation in total offense with an average of 424.4 yards a contest (172.2 rushing, 252.2 passing).

Before joining the Cincinnati staff in 1999, Fisher served as the quarterbacks coach at Auburn under Terry Bowden from 1993-98 where he tutored record-setting quarterbacks Stan White, Patrick Nix and Dameyune Craig, who is the only 3,000-yard passer in Auburn history. He helped lead Auburn to appearances in the 1996 Outback, 1996 Independence and 1998 Peach Bowls.

Fisher, a native of Clarksburg, W. Va., also served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Samford for two years (1991-92) before joining the Auburn staff. He started his coaching career as a graduate assistant tutoring quarterbacks at Samford from 1988-90.

In college, Fisher played quarterback for Terry Bowden for three seasons, two at Salem College (1985-86) and one at Samford (1987). While at Samford he set the national record for touchdowns in a season with 34 and was named the Division III National Player of the Year that season. He also set 13 school passing and total offense records.

Following college, Fisher played for one season with the Chicago Bruisers of the Arena Football League in 1988.

The Fisher Resume:
College: Salem College '89
Year at LSU: Seventh (appointed December 6, 1999)
1988-90 Samford (graduate assistant/quarterbacks)
1991-92 Samford (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks)
1993-98 Auburn (quarterbacks)
1999 Cincinnati (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks)
2000- LSU (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks)