Jedd Fisch addresses uniqueness of honoring 2023 Washington team’s success amid turnover

Jedd Fisch finds himself in an awkward situation. He is the head coach of a program fresh off a Pac-12 Championship and a national championship game appearance. Except, Fisch was not a part of the journey at all, with Kalen DeBoer leading the Huskies through a magical season.

So when it came to celebrating the 2023 Washington team, Fisch put together a dinner. The university had bought rings for the players and coaches as well, for both the Pac-12 title win and taking down Texas in the Sugar Bowl. Fisch made sure DeBoer got the recognition he deserved too despite being busy in Tuscaloosa with Alabama.

“We talked to our team about having a celebration dinner,” Fisch said. “I wanted to celebrate their success and it’s kind of a unique world the way we’re living it because of so much change on that team and that the staff wasn’t there. I imagine they would have done something, if it was the same coaching staff, sometime in the spring time or when the rings arrived. I think the rings arrived in May. We needed to figure out a way how we were going to do it…

“It’s kind of a weird deal because it’s Kalen DeBoer’s football team that we were celebrating and I wanted him to receive the credit. Along with the coaching staff and the team that was there.”

For those who could not attend the ceremony, Fisch says rings were shipped out to them. From coaches now working other jobs or NFL guys like Michael Penix Jr. or Rome Odunze — making sure they were celebrated was Fisch’s priority.

Jedd Fisch wanted to celebrate Arizona’s Alamo Bowl win too

On the flip side, Fisch himself was a part of a successful team in 2023. He led Arizona to a 10-win season, the school’s first in nearly a decade. Taking down Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl was the cherry on top before leaving for Seattle.

Fisch personally went out of his way to make sure those players and coaches who followed him to the Pacific Northwest got to be praised as well.

“On the same token, we have 28 players and coaches from Arizona that won the Alamo Bowl,” Fisch said. “I thought it would be right for them to get rings as well. So, in our situation, our collection, Amber and I, bought the rings for the Arizona players and coaches.”