Charlie Fisher, with over 30 years of coaching experience under his belt, enters his second season as the wide receivers coach for Sun Devil Football.
Fisher assumed the role left vacant by Rob Likens after head coach Herm Edwards promoted Likens to the role of offensive coordinator.
“Charlie Fisher is an energetic and passionate coach with a wealth of experience who will be a great asset to Rob Likens and who will develop the young men on this football team both on and off the field,” Edwards said. “Coach Fisher has coached at all levels of the game and will utilize his over 30 years of coaching experience to continue helping us to impact what we already feel is an elite group of wide receivers.”
“I’m excited to be part of the great tradition at Arizona State University and to be a part of what’s being built there with Coach Edwards.” Fisher said. “I’m very humbled and grateful for this opportunity and can’t thank Coach Edwards and Coach Likens enough for welcoming me to Tempe.”
“Coach Fisher was the perfect fit because he’s not only one of the best all-around coaches I’ve been around, but he’s been around high profile draft picks his whole career,” Likens said. “We have some high-profile guys and I wanted them to benefit from his experiences and his success at working with and developing players that were successful at the next level.
“Charlie is a tremendous developer of receivers and quarterbacks. He is a tireless recruiter and - if you look everywhere he’s been - the offenses or teams improved while he was there. He’s someone I’d want to surround myself with every day.”
In Fisher’s first season at ASU WR N’Keal Harry, who last April was drafted by the New England Patriots in the first round of the NFL Draft, went over the 1,000-yard mark, accumulating 1,088 yards on 78 receptions with nine touchdowns. Fellow wide receivers Kyle Williams (44 receptions, 449 yards, two touchdowns), Brandon Aiyuk (33 receptions, 474 yards, three touchdowns) and Frank Darby (21 receptions, 421 yards, two touchdowns) all posted double-digit reception totals and multiple touchdown catches. Darby averaged a phenomenal 20.0 yards per catch to lead ASU.
Fisher join Edwards’ staff after serving as head coach for two seasons at FCS school Western Illinois. In two seasons with the Leathernecks, Fisher led the program to an 8-4 record in 2017 and a 14-9 overall record. The Leathernecks advanced to the first round of the 2017 FCS playoffs where they fell to eighth-ranked Weber State.
Fisher led WIU to a top-10 ranking at some point in both the 2016 and 2017 campaigns.
Fisher helped to oversee the growth of linebacker Brett Taylor, who was named the Missouri Valley Football Conference Defensive Player of the Year and the FCS ADA Linebacker of the Year while also being tabbed a first-team All-American by numerous outlets.
Led by Taylor, Western Illinois placed four players on STATS FCS’ and Phil Steele’s All-American teams, respectively. Taylor, wide receiver Jaelon Acklin and center Jacob Judd received honors on both squads, while defensive lineman Khalen Saunders was placed on Phil Steele’s All-American list.
Acklin was also named an AP All-American as he set school single-season records in 2017 with 84 receptions for 1,369 yards. The senior wide receiver’s five 100-yard receiving games matched a program record, while his 10 receiving touchdowns tied for fifth.
Acklin finished the campaign second in the nation in receiving yards (1,369), fifth in receiving yards per game (114.1), seventh in total touchdowns (14), ninth in all-purpose yards per game (135.33), 11th in receptions per game (7.0) and 14th in receiving scores (10). He concluded his career eighth in WIU history with 1,733 receiving yards and tied for 10th with 12 receiving touchdowns.
Western Illinois finished the 2017 season ranked 29th nationally in passing yards at 241.3 yards per game while averaging just a tick under 400 yards of total offense per game, good for 40th in the FCS.
Two players were named All-American under Fisher in 2016, wide receiver Lance Lenoir, Jr. (all-time leading receiver in WIU history and most catches in MVFC history) and Taylor, who finished seventh in the Buck Buchanan Award voting. Lenoir also signed as a free agent following the 2016 season with the Dallas Cowboys.
Fisher spent two years at Richmond prior to joining Western Illinois, serving as the offensive coordinator in 2015 after holding the position of wide receivers coach and director of recruiting in 2014. In 2015, the Spiders advanced to the semifinals of the FCS playoffs (10-4 overall record) while earning a Top-10 national ranking.
During the 2015 season, Richmond featured a balanced offensive attack, ranking eighth nationally in third down conversions (47.4), 14th in passing efficiency (145.41), 18th in time of possession (32:31), 19th in total offense (451.9), 19th in redzone offense (.855), 23rd in scoring (33.0 ppg), 27th in passing (260.9) and 31st in rushing (190.9).
The Spiders scored 37 or more points in half of their 14 games, including wins at James Madison (59-49) as part of the ESPN College GameDay event and at Illinois State (39-27) in the quarterfinals of the FCS Playoffs.
Six offensive players earned All-Colonial Athletic Association honors (including three offensive players named All-American), and first year quarterback Kyle Lauletta threw for the second-most passing yards in a season.
Richmond won nine games in 2014 and also advanced to the second round of the playoffs. That season the Spiders ranked eighth in the country in passing offense and were second in conversions on third and fourth down.
Western Illinois was the second head coaching stop for Fisher. From 1993-97, he was the head coach at West Georgia and posted a 36-17 record with a share of the 1997 Gulf South Conference championship and two postseason appearances. He coached 45 All-Gulf South Conference performers and seven All-Americans.
It was also at West Georgia where Fisher first crossed paths with Sun Devil Offensive Coordinator Rob Likens, who was an assistant at North Alabama at the time.”
“Coach Likens and I go way back to when I was at West Georgia and he was at North Alabama and then I went to Temple as offensive coordinator when Rob was the wideouts coach,” Fisher said. “This is a unique opportunity to reunite with him. We share a close friendship that goes beyond the X’s and O’s of the football field.
With more than 30 years of college coaching experience, Fisher has spent time as an assistant coach at: Penn State, Miami (Ohio), Vanderbilt, Temple, North Carolina State, West Georgia, Lenoir-Rhyne, Ole Miss and Eastern Kentucky. He was a graduate assistant on the 1982 Eastern Kentucky team that won the FCS national championship.
During his two years at Penn State, Fisher coached then true-freshman quarterback Christian Hackenberg to five Big Ten Conference ‘Freshman of the Week’ awards and the 2013 ‘Freshman of the Year’ accolade. Hackenberg had the third-most passing yards in the country by a true-freshman. The year before quarterback Matt McGloin led the Big Ten in total offense, passing yards, passing TDs and fewest interceptions.
In 2011 while at Miami (Ohio), Fisher served as the passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He mentored Zac Dysert to the nation’s 11th-best passing offense and 14th nationally in total offense. Dysert increased his passing yards by 1,100 from one year to the next and threw for 25 TDs (12 more than the year prior).
Fisher spent nine years at Vanderbilt in various roles, including co-passing game coordinator for the final five seasons. During the 2005 season he was part of the offensive staff that coached SEC Player of the Year Jay Cutler.
Fisher also coached wide receiver Earl Bennett, who was a semifinalist for the Fred Biletnikoff Award (nation’s best wide receiver). During his time, he coached two SEC Freshman of the Year award winners. The 2008 Commodores squad won their first bowl game in 26 years.
While at Temple as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, the Owls recorded the most wins and second-most points in 10 years.
In his two years as the wide receivers coach at North Carolina State, Fisher coached the ACC Rookie of the Year (and eventual ninth overall pick in the NFL Draft) Koren Robinson, and 1998 consensus First Team All-American and ACC Player of the Year Torry Holt.
Fisher earned his bachelor’s degree from Springfield College and a master’s degree at Eastern Kentucky. He and his wife Julie have two sons: Brian and Brett.
Fisher assumed the role left vacant by Rob Likens after head coach Herm Edwards promoted Likens to the role of offensive coordinator.
“Charlie Fisher is an energetic and passionate coach with a wealth of experience who will be a great asset to Rob Likens and who will develop the young men on this football team both on and off the field,” Edwards said. “Coach Fisher has coached at all levels of the game and will utilize his over 30 years of coaching experience to continue helping us to impact what we already feel is an elite group of wide receivers.”
“I’m excited to be part of the great tradition at Arizona State University and to be a part of what’s being built there with Coach Edwards.” Fisher said. “I’m very humbled and grateful for this opportunity and can’t thank Coach Edwards and Coach Likens enough for welcoming me to Tempe.”
“Coach Fisher was the perfect fit because he’s not only one of the best all-around coaches I’ve been around, but he’s been around high profile draft picks his whole career,” Likens said. “We have some high-profile guys and I wanted them to benefit from his experiences and his success at working with and developing players that were successful at the next level.
“Charlie is a tremendous developer of receivers and quarterbacks. He is a tireless recruiter and - if you look everywhere he’s been - the offenses or teams improved while he was there. He’s someone I’d want to surround myself with every day.”
In Fisher’s first season at ASU WR N’Keal Harry, who last April was drafted by the New England Patriots in the first round of the NFL Draft, went over the 1,000-yard mark, accumulating 1,088 yards on 78 receptions with nine touchdowns. Fellow wide receivers Kyle Williams (44 receptions, 449 yards, two touchdowns), Brandon Aiyuk (33 receptions, 474 yards, three touchdowns) and Frank Darby (21 receptions, 421 yards, two touchdowns) all posted double-digit reception totals and multiple touchdown catches. Darby averaged a phenomenal 20.0 yards per catch to lead ASU.
Fisher join Edwards’ staff after serving as head coach for two seasons at FCS school Western Illinois. In two seasons with the Leathernecks, Fisher led the program to an 8-4 record in 2017 and a 14-9 overall record. The Leathernecks advanced to the first round of the 2017 FCS playoffs where they fell to eighth-ranked Weber State.
Fisher led WIU to a top-10 ranking at some point in both the 2016 and 2017 campaigns.
Fisher helped to oversee the growth of linebacker Brett Taylor, who was named the Missouri Valley Football Conference Defensive Player of the Year and the FCS ADA Linebacker of the Year while also being tabbed a first-team All-American by numerous outlets.
Led by Taylor, Western Illinois placed four players on STATS FCS’ and Phil Steele’s All-American teams, respectively. Taylor, wide receiver Jaelon Acklin and center Jacob Judd received honors on both squads, while defensive lineman Khalen Saunders was placed on Phil Steele’s All-American list.
Acklin was also named an AP All-American as he set school single-season records in 2017 with 84 receptions for 1,369 yards. The senior wide receiver’s five 100-yard receiving games matched a program record, while his 10 receiving touchdowns tied for fifth.
Acklin finished the campaign second in the nation in receiving yards (1,369), fifth in receiving yards per game (114.1), seventh in total touchdowns (14), ninth in all-purpose yards per game (135.33), 11th in receptions per game (7.0) and 14th in receiving scores (10). He concluded his career eighth in WIU history with 1,733 receiving yards and tied for 10th with 12 receiving touchdowns.
Western Illinois finished the 2017 season ranked 29th nationally in passing yards at 241.3 yards per game while averaging just a tick under 400 yards of total offense per game, good for 40th in the FCS.
Two players were named All-American under Fisher in 2016, wide receiver Lance Lenoir, Jr. (all-time leading receiver in WIU history and most catches in MVFC history) and Taylor, who finished seventh in the Buck Buchanan Award voting. Lenoir also signed as a free agent following the 2016 season with the Dallas Cowboys.
Fisher spent two years at Richmond prior to joining Western Illinois, serving as the offensive coordinator in 2015 after holding the position of wide receivers coach and director of recruiting in 2014. In 2015, the Spiders advanced to the semifinals of the FCS playoffs (10-4 overall record) while earning a Top-10 national ranking.
During the 2015 season, Richmond featured a balanced offensive attack, ranking eighth nationally in third down conversions (47.4), 14th in passing efficiency (145.41), 18th in time of possession (32:31), 19th in total offense (451.9), 19th in redzone offense (.855), 23rd in scoring (33.0 ppg), 27th in passing (260.9) and 31st in rushing (190.9).
The Spiders scored 37 or more points in half of their 14 games, including wins at James Madison (59-49) as part of the ESPN College GameDay event and at Illinois State (39-27) in the quarterfinals of the FCS Playoffs.
Six offensive players earned All-Colonial Athletic Association honors (including three offensive players named All-American), and first year quarterback Kyle Lauletta threw for the second-most passing yards in a season.
Richmond won nine games in 2014 and also advanced to the second round of the playoffs. That season the Spiders ranked eighth in the country in passing offense and were second in conversions on third and fourth down.
Western Illinois was the second head coaching stop for Fisher. From 1993-97, he was the head coach at West Georgia and posted a 36-17 record with a share of the 1997 Gulf South Conference championship and two postseason appearances. He coached 45 All-Gulf South Conference performers and seven All-Americans.
It was also at West Georgia where Fisher first crossed paths with Sun Devil Offensive Coordinator Rob Likens, who was an assistant at North Alabama at the time.”
“Coach Likens and I go way back to when I was at West Georgia and he was at North Alabama and then I went to Temple as offensive coordinator when Rob was the wideouts coach,” Fisher said. “This is a unique opportunity to reunite with him. We share a close friendship that goes beyond the X’s and O’s of the football field.
With more than 30 years of college coaching experience, Fisher has spent time as an assistant coach at: Penn State, Miami (Ohio), Vanderbilt, Temple, North Carolina State, West Georgia, Lenoir-Rhyne, Ole Miss and Eastern Kentucky. He was a graduate assistant on the 1982 Eastern Kentucky team that won the FCS national championship.
During his two years at Penn State, Fisher coached then true-freshman quarterback Christian Hackenberg to five Big Ten Conference ‘Freshman of the Week’ awards and the 2013 ‘Freshman of the Year’ accolade. Hackenberg had the third-most passing yards in the country by a true-freshman. The year before quarterback Matt McGloin led the Big Ten in total offense, passing yards, passing TDs and fewest interceptions.
In 2011 while at Miami (Ohio), Fisher served as the passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He mentored Zac Dysert to the nation’s 11th-best passing offense and 14th nationally in total offense. Dysert increased his passing yards by 1,100 from one year to the next and threw for 25 TDs (12 more than the year prior).
Fisher spent nine years at Vanderbilt in various roles, including co-passing game coordinator for the final five seasons. During the 2005 season he was part of the offensive staff that coached SEC Player of the Year Jay Cutler.
Fisher also coached wide receiver Earl Bennett, who was a semifinalist for the Fred Biletnikoff Award (nation’s best wide receiver). During his time, he coached two SEC Freshman of the Year award winners. The 2008 Commodores squad won their first bowl game in 26 years.
While at Temple as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, the Owls recorded the most wins and second-most points in 10 years.
In his two years as the wide receivers coach at North Carolina State, Fisher coached the ACC Rookie of the Year (and eventual ninth overall pick in the NFL Draft) Koren Robinson, and 1998 consensus First Team All-American and ACC Player of the Year Torry Holt.
Fisher earned his bachelor’s degree from Springfield College and a master’s degree at Eastern Kentucky. He and his wife Julie have two sons: Brian and Brett.