TALLAHASSEE — In the end, Bobby Bowden got his man.
Jimbo Fisher, who helped LSU to a share of the national title in 2003 during his seven-year run at the school, agreed to become Florida State's offensive coordinator on Monday, replacing Jeff Bowden, who resigned in November.
Fisher, 41, the eighth man to hold that job during Bobby Bowden's 31-year tenure at FSU, will sign a three-year contract with a $215,000 annual base salary. He will also coach the Seminoles' quarterbacks, replacing Daryl Dickey, whose contract won't be renewed.
"His ability to put in an offense and adjust as the season goes along is second to none," Bowden said in a statement released by the university. "He brings the experience and attitude that I was looking for in a coordinator."
Fisher's hiring ends a wild negotiating process that included Bowden issuing a statement just before 10 p.m. Saturday in which he said he had pulled the job offer. But, according to several sources close to the process, Fisher apparently called Bowden late Saturday or early Sunday to reopen talks. From there, the two sides needed less than 24 hours to come to terms.
Fisher is the third new coach to join Bowden's staff in the past week, joining offensive line coach Rick Trickett (formerly of West Virginia) and receivers coach Lawrence Dawsey (formerly of South Florda).
Keith Jones, an analyst for Sun Sports and a member of Bowden's first recruiting class, said Bowden's reputation as a top recruiter helped him land Fisher.
"This is the first time he's had to close the deal on this broad of a coaching shake-up," Jones said. "He proved last year that he can still close the deal on recruits. He's proven with this staff that he can close the deal on coaches, too. He may not know how text messaging works, but he knows how people work."
Bowden had to clear some major hurdles to land Fisher, who was also offered the offensive coordinator's job on Nick Saban's staff at Alabama and was reportedly being offered a raise to stay at LSU. He interviewed for head coaching positions at Alabama-Birmingham and Louisiana Tech.
"The opportunity to coach at Florida State and to grow as a coach under coach Bowden was one that I could not pass up," Fisher said in a statement.
Dawsey, a former All-America receiver at FSU, said he was excited to hear that Fisher accepted the job, which will reunite Fisher, Dawsey and Trickett. Dawsey was a graduate assistant coach at LSU in 2003 for Fisher, and Trickett was the offensive line coach.
Dawsey said Fisher's work ethic will make him a success in Tallahassee.
"He's very thorough, very intense," Dawsey said. "He will be prepared for any situation. I'd see him in the office at all hours trying to game plan for every situation, from long-yardage to short-yardage or whatever. He is always preparing for anything that might come up in a game."
Bowden has two vacancies to fill on his staff.
