Jimbo Fisher emphasizes his desire to return to coaching college football: 'I'm not going to get out of it because I've got money'

There are very few coaches who get to leave their jobs when they’re ready to go and retire into the sunset. It’s a reality of the coaching industry. Some do have that financial opportunity to walk away, though, as was the case when Texas A&M fired Jimbo Fisher and paid him the largest buyout in history.

Despite that, Fisher does want to get back into coaching. Recently, he sat down with Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports. There, he emphasized that desire and even explained that it’s not a financial decision for him.

“I never got into coaching for money,” Jimbo Fisher said. “Well, I’m not going to get out of it because I’ve got money.”

Jimbo Fisher began his coaching career in 1988 with Samford as a GA and quarterbacks coach. He would work his way up, eventually finding himself on Nick Saban‘s staff at LSU as the offensive coordinator, winning a national championship in the process. After jumping to Florida State to coach under Bobby Bowden, he’d take over as the head coach there, winning a national championship. Later, he’d make the jump to Texas A&M. Along the way, he put together a 128-48 record.

Money, as Fisher pointed out, isn’t an issue either. Beyond the salaries that he earned over the years, his buyout from Texas A&M was for $77.5 million. It’s still the largest ever paid to a coach.

“When you’re away from something, it makes you reflect,” Fisher said. “I’m back to watching film and have those feelings. I miss the players and those relationships. I miss practice. I miss the grind. I live to coach. I love to do what I did.”

A year ago, when West Virginia opened up, Jimbo Fisher did have some conversations with the school. That didn’t end up working out, though. Instead, the job went to Rich Rodriguez. Still, it shows that this itch didn’t come out of nowhere. Certainly, his wife, Courtney Fisher, knows that.

“It’s in his blood,” she added. “There’s no getting away from it.”

One thing that is clear is that there are going to be plenty of open jobs this offseason. It’s not even November yet and there are seven Power Four openings. That’s before considering all the Group of Five positions that have the potential to open up too. So, if there’s a market for Jimbo Fisher, this might be the cycle to find it.

Regardless, Fisher has long since been one of college football’s biggest personalities. After his long and successful run as a head coach, it’s hard to imagine that there’s no options out there at all.