A day after his new eight-year contract was announced, Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher said Tuesday he now has the security to execute his long-term vision for the program.
FSU issued a release Monday stating Fisher signed a contract extension to keep him at the school through 2024 with an option for additional years. His base salary will go from $5.25 million to $5.55 million starting in 2017, pushing the total contract value to more than $44 million.
"It just gets it out there for everyone to know," Fisher said of his extension. "Again, I love being here. I want to be here. This a great place. We've built something really special here and I want to continue it for a long time. I think [FSU President John] Thrasher has been awesome with that and seeing the big picture with everything we're doing.
"He loves it and understands what we do and understands our importance to this university, too."
* Also See: Updates from Tuesday's practice, along with video of Fisher speaking to reporters
Retaining Fisher for the long term comes weeks after the program endured speculation regarding the coach's future. Fisher was reported to be on LSU's shortlist to replace fired coach Les Miles.
Fisher, who was LSU's offensive coordinator from 2000 to 2006, repeatedly told reporters and fans he was "happy" at FSU despite the reports that the Tigers were targeting him.
"People know if there's something that's significant, I am open and honest with people," Fisher said after Tuesday's practice. "When the guys that count on my job for their life, I'll always be open and honest with that. It really wasn't as bad as everyone else as far as that goes on a daily basis."
Fisher said the deal also provides him an opportunity to press ahead with his future plans for guiding the program. Since taking over in 2010, Fisher has both developed and kept FSU as one of college football's elite programs.
His 77 wins are the third-most behind Alabama and Ohio State dating back to when he was hired. Fisher won the school's third national championship in 2013 and has consistently pieced together top-10 recruiting classes.
Should FSU (9-3) beat Michigan in the Capital One Orange Bowl on Dec. 30, it would secure Fisher's fifth consecutive season of 10 or more victories.
"It's security and knowing what you're going to," Fisher said. "It's just like when you want to plan and see a future, you have long-term vision with what you want and how you want things and where you want to go.
"Now that you know you're going to be here, those longer plans of how to get there and having to plan and what you need in two years, four years what you need, six years what you need, because you know you can't get everything overnight with the big picture of what you want to do. And that makes everything a lot easier."
--------------------------------
Talk about this story with other Florida State fans in The Tribal Council
