Seattle Seahawks quarterbacks coach Jedd Fisch has been hired as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Miami.
Fisch will remain with the Seahawks for the remainder of their playoff run. At Miami, he will replace Mark Whipple, who spent two seasons with the Hurricanes but wasn't retained by new coach Al Golden.
After Seahawks practice Thursday, Fisch said it was a difficult decision to leave the NFL but that coach Pete Carroll was supportive of it.
"What made the decision easiest was his support," Fisch said. "I've used him as a mentor, but I really relied heavily on him for his one. We've had a couple of days now talking about it, and he was extremely supportive of it, and that's what made the decision the easiest."
Fisch is a University of Florida graduate who spent nine of the past 10 years working in the NFL, including this season in Seattle. He also has worked in Houston, Baltimore and Denver, plus spent one season as offensive coordinator at the University of Minnesota.
Golden targeted an offensive coordinator with NFL ties.
"It became abundantly clear that coach Fisch wanted to be back in college, and more important, he had a passion to be at the University of Miami," Golden said in a statement released Thursday. "His credentials and skills are the right match for the pro-style offense we will run. Jedd has learned from the best coaches in the game, both professionally and on the college level, and he has taken those experiences to develop his own unique approach."
The Hurricanes' new offensive coordinator already has close ties with some members of the staff. He's leaving Pete Carroll's staff with the Seahawks; Carroll's son, Brennan, is Miami's newly hired national recruiting coordinator.
Fisch worked under Steve Spurrier as a graduate assistant with the Gators. Fisch also has worked under coaches Mike Shanahan and Brian Billick, and with players Matt Hasselbeck, Brandon Marshall, Steve McNair, Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton.
Fisch also coached in high school in talent-rich Florida.
Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press
