Jedd Fisch accepts the head coaching job in Washington

Arizona coach Jedd Fisch has accepted the head coaching job for Washington and is expected to be on a plane to Seattle as soon as tonight. Fisch interviewed for the first time with the Huskies on Saturday afternoon and there were some who thought he wasn't the first choice.

On Sunday afternoon, Kansas head coach Lance Leipold declined the job and the search turned back to Fisch. A second interview took place sometime in the last 24 hours and finances were discussed and everything was finalized on Sunday afternoon.

Throughout the process, there were indications from Fish that he was happy in Arizona and did not take Washington's offer seriously, but the administration lost its way.

Fisch is coming off one of the best seasons in school history. The Wildcats finished the 2023 regular season with six straight wins and a 9-3 overall record before winning the Alamo Bowl in impressive fashion against Oklahoma.

2021-2023 The eight-win improvement was the largest improvement in wins over three seasons in program history. Arizona capped the season with a dominant 59-23 win over rival Arizona State to retain the Regional Cup for the second straight year, marking the first time since the 2008-2009 seasons that Arizona had won back-to-back Regional Cup games.

Not a subscriber?subscribe nowGet all the great information about featured paintings and all the featured stories onWildcatAuthority.com!Click here to subscribe!

Arizona's finish this season is the highest in the Wildcats' conference since winning the South Division and appearing in the Pac-12 Championship game against Oregon in 2014.

In Fish's second year with the Wildcats, Arizona posted a four-win improvement, posting third place — the largest single-season increase in wins in program history. The Wildcats finished 5-7 in 2022 after going 1-11 in 2021, highlighted by a defeat of No. 9 UCLA in the Rose Bowl, which was Arizona's first top-10 win on the road in a year 2015.

The move comes as a surprise to some because although many view Washington as a high-profile job, the Wildcats were prepared to bring back one of the best rosters in college football and challenge for a Big 12 title.< /p>

Also, Fish has been on a media tour saying he's happy in Arizona and doesn't plan on going anywhere.

“We are going into the Big 12 with a lot of momentum,” Fisch said after the Alamo Bowl. “We're on a seven-game winning streak. It's pretty great for Arizona football to be on a seven-game winning streak. I love our players, and I think the reason we're able to do what we do is because our players stay and our players work hard and our players believe.” Where would you rather be and then go and try to be top 10 or better next year?”

Search for a new Arizona team The head coach will begin work immediately.