Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Jimbo Fisher could succeed Florida St coach Bobby Bowden
Associated Press
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher is
in position to succeed Bobby Bowden whenever the longtime Florida
State coach decides to retire.
Terms of a new contract for the 78-year-old Bowden are expected
to be announced Monday, the school said.
According to Bowden's attorney, Russ Campbell of Birmingham,
Ala., the agreement would allow him to coach as long as he wants.
However, an individual familiar with the negotiations, who
requested anonymity, said Fisher would be given a substantial pay
increase to compensate him for additional duties required of a head
coach, such as fundraising.
Fisher's deal would be for three years, almost assuring Bowden's
retirement by the end of the 2010 season when he would be 81.
Bowden has frequently said he would like to reach 400 wins before
retiring, but would have to average nine wins a season to meet that
goal in three years.
The university would pay Fisher a seven-figure settlement if he
is not chosen to succeed Bowden, the person said Wednesday. And
Fisher would be required to repay the school if he opted out to
take another job under the terms of the agreement that is still
being finalized.
On Tuesday, university president T.K. Wetherell told boosters in
Jacksonville, Fla., he was working on a deal to keep Fisher, whose
name has been linked to some of the current head coaches openings.
Bowden's 373 career wins -- the most among major college coaches
-- are two more than Penn State's Joe Paterno, who turns 81 on Dec.
21.
Bowden has 300 wins at Florida State, where he has won a pair of
national championships and 12 Atlantic Coast Conference titles
during his 32 years at the school.
Bowden, whose present five-year contract expires in early
January, was paid $2,023,689.15 in 2006, state records show.
Fisher, who has never been a head coach, came to Florida State
earlier this year from LSU to replace Bowden's son, Jeff.
