Air Force Academy – Fisher DeBerry moved from renowned football coach to instant legend Friday when he announced he was retiring after 23 years as head coach at the Air Force Academy.
While reading a prepared statement, DeBerry had to choke back emotion at times, but he made it clear he would always be a Falcon at heart.
“My heart and prayers will always be with the Fighting Falcons,” said DeBerry, whose overall record was 169-109-1. “We have been blessed and privileged to have had the opportunity to coach the finest young people in America and work daily with the best coaches in NCAA football.”
DeBerry’s 23 seasons rank as the third-longest tenure in college football among active coaches behind Joe Paterno’s 41 seasons at Penn State and Bobby Bowden’s 31 seasons at Florida State.
DeBerry won or retained the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy 15 times in battles with Army and Navy. DeBerry took the Falcons to 12 bowl games, in which they went 6-6, but they had not been to a bowl since 2002 and experienced a losing season in 2006 for the third year in a row.
DeBerry, 68, leaves Air Force with three years remaining on his contract and will receive a negotiated sum of $850,000 over the next five years.
He also has an $8,500 a month insurance annuity from the academy. He earned a total package salary of $770,000 this year. His salary would have increased 5 percent annually over the next three years if he had completed his contract.
Athletic director Hans Mueh said his search for potential candidates would be nationwide, pointing out that he had been pleasantly surprised when he had to replace basketball coach Chris Mooney on short notice two years ago. Mueh found Jeff Bzdelik, former Denver Nuggets coach, to lead Air Force’s basketball program.
Mueh said he didn’t have any candidates at present.
Troy Calhoun, a former Air Force player and assistant coach for the Denver Broncos, has been mentioned on the NFL grapevine as a candidate. Calhoun is the offensive coordinator at Houston.
“Anyone who has been with coach DeBerry for a while feels a strong, personal bond to him,” said Calhoun, who added it was too soon to think of anything but DeBerry. “It pulls at your heart. It’s very emotional. His influence on that program is immeasurable. He is a hall of fame coach, but he is a hall of fame person.”
Members of DeBerry’s coaching staff with head coaching experience include Paul Hamilton, Richard Bell, Brian Knorr and Pete Hurt.
Junior safety Bobby Giannini said DeBerry addressed the players Friday morning. Giannini said he was more surprised at the timing of the announcement, which took place during finals week, than the substance.
“We all got the vibes from him after the season that he was retiring,” Giannini said. “He looked sad when he was talking to us. We all got choked up too. I’ve never had to play for a new coach here, but it will be a little bit different but also exciting.”
Fullback Ryan Williams was surprised by DeBerry’s announcement.
“I’ve always looked at him as a competitor,” Williams said.
There had been criticism of DeBerry’s decision to stick with the triple-option offense, which some believe is outdated.
“I think we put up points with the top people in the country and the conference,” quarterback Shaun Carney said. “I don’t know if the triple option is the only offense that possibly would work for us. That’s part of the excitement and the reasons why people are nervous and wondering how things will change.”
DeBerry takes his place alongside the stalwarts of service academy football, including former Army coach Earl Blaik and players Glenn Davis and Doc Blanchard, Navy’s Roger Staubach and Joe Bellino, and Air Force’s Brock Strom and Chad Hennings.
While it was obvious DeBerry was leaving a place he cherishes, players he loves and assistant coaches he respects, the departing Air Force coach left immediately after reading his statement.
He didn’t take any questions that might have explained why he decided to leave with more than 20 seniors-to-be returning next season, including Carney, a three-year starter, and prospects of playing a schedule less difficult than this past season, which the Falcons finished 4-8.
Air Force’s nonconference schedule in 2007 includes Notre Dame, South Carolina State, Navy and Army, as well as eight Mountain West Conference opponents.
Mueh said he hoped all of DeBerry’s assistant coaches would be considered for positions on the new coaching staff. He also said any of them interested in the head coaching job would be interviewed.
While he would not confirm the subject of assistant coaches was a breaking point, Mueh acknowledged he had had discussions with DeBerry about the possible need for changes on the coaching staff.
Staff writer Bill Williamson contributed to this report.
Staff writer Irv Moss can be reached at 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
DeBerry’s record
Year (Overall, Conf., Conf. finish) Bowl
1984 (8-4-0, 4-3, 3rd) Independence vs. Virginia Tech: W, 23-7
1985 (12-1-0, 7-1, 1st*) Bluebonnet vs. Texas: W, 24-16
1986 (6-5-0, 5-2, 3rd) None
1987 (9-4-0, 6-2, 3rd) Freedom vs. Arizona State: L, 33-28
1988 (5-7-0, 3-5, 6th) None
1989 (8-4-1, 5-1-1, 2nd) Liberty vs. Mississippi: L, 42-29
1990 (7-5-0, 3-4, 6th) Liberty vs. Ohio State: W, 23-11
1991 (10-3-0, 6-2, 3rd) Liberty vs. Mississippi State: W, 38-15
1992 (7-5-0, 4-4, 6th) Liberty vs. Mississippi: L, 13-0
1993 (4-8-0, 1-7, 9th) None
1994 (8-4-0, 6-2, 2nd**) None
1995 (8-5-0, 6-2, 1st*) Copper vs. Texas Tech: L, 55-41
1996 (6-5-0, 5-3, 4th) None
1997 (10-3-0, 6-2, 2nd) Las Vegas vs. Oregon: L, 41-13
1998 (12-1-0, 7-1, 1st) O’ahu vs. Washington: W, 45-25
1999 (6-5-0, 2-5, 7th) None
2000 (9-3-0, 5-2, 2nd) Silicon Valley Classic vs. Fresno State: W, 37-34
2001 (6-6-0, 3-4, 5th) None
2002 (8-5-0, 4-3, 3rd) San Francisco Bowl vs. Virginia Tech: L, 20-13
2003 (7-5-0, 3-4, 4th) None
2004 (5-6-0, 3-4, 4th) None
2005 (4-7-0, 3-5, 7th) None
2006 (4-8-0, 3-5, 7th) None
*tied for WAC title
**tied for second in WAC
DeBerry’s AFA tenure
1984 – When Fisher DeBerry took over the Air Force football program in 1984, he inherited a 10-2 team from previous coach Ken Hatfield. Upon his hiring, DeBerry said the team’s priorities would always be, in order: to beat Army and Navy, to win the conference championship, beat Notre Dame, and, finally, to get to bowl games.The Falcons went 8-4.
1985 – In what might be DeBerry’s second-best season, Air Force went 12-1, won the WAC championship, defeated Notre Dame for the fourth consecutive season (second under DeBerry), won the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy.
1986 – In a crossover year between senior Bart Weiss’ reign as quarterback and freshman Dee Dowis’ beginning, the Falcons went 6-5.
1987 – A fourth consecutive winning season (9-4) under DeBerry saw wins over Texas Christian, Colorado State and Army, among others.
1988 – DeBerry’s first losing season (5-7). Air Force failed to win the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy and finished fifth in the WAC.
1989 – Dee Dowis becomes Air Force’s highest vote-getter for the Heisman Trophy, finishing sixth in the voting. He leads Air Force to an 8-4-1 season, with wins over CSU and Wyoming.
1990 – The Falcons (7-5) lost big to Notre Dame (57-27), San Diego State (48-18) and Brigham Young (54-7) and were beaten by local rivals CSU (35-33) and Wyoming (24-12). But they won the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy. But seven other wins and a sixth-place finish in the WAC.
1991 – Losses to Notre Dame, Brigham Young and a 34-32 loss to New Mexico were the only marks against DeBerry’s eighth season at the helm. He led the Falcons to the service academy trophy.
1992 – Defensive back Carlton McDonald became a consensus All-American and a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award and Air Force fought to a 7-5 record.
1993 – The first of DeBerry’s three career-worst, four-win seasons. Air Force lost to CSU with an unusual 8-5 score and were beaten by Wyoming 31-18. The Falcons finished ninth in the WAC.
1994 – After two consecutive losses to end the 1993 season, Air Force started the 1994 season with three straight losses. But the Falcons responded with seven straight wins, salvaging the season. However, their 8-4 record and second-place finish in the WAC.
1995 – Air Force followed a 5-2 start with a 3-3 record down the stretch, including a 44-14 loss to Notre Dame. But wins over BYU, Wyoming, Army and Navy.
1996 – The highlight of the season turned out to be one of DeBerry’s shining moments as a coach. In a nationally-televised game, Air Force shocked No. 8 Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., 20-17 in overtime. It was the highest-ranked team DeBerry defeated in his 23 seasons. The Falcons finished 6-5, including a 42-41 loss to CSU.
1997 – Led by linebacker Chris Gizzi, who would earn his second WAC defensive player of the year award, the Falcons lost just two games in the regular season, to Fresno State and San Jose State, by a combined six points.
1998 – After an 11-1 regular season, DeBerry earned his third and final conference championship, with only a 35-34 loss to TCU. The Falcons routed Wake Forest and UNLV and downed CSU and No. 25 Wyoming. .
1999 – In the newly formed Mountain West Conference, DeBerry leads Air Force to a 6-5 finish and seventh-place league finish. The Falcons won the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy, but they lost to CSU and Wyoming. Though their 31-21 win over Washington in Week 2 gave Air Force its 11th consecutive victory, the nation’s then-longest active winning streak.
2000 – Air Force was 5-2 heading into a Week 8 game in South Bend, after a blowout of Cal State Northridge and quality wins over BYU, Utah, Navy and Wyoming. But in a heartbreaker, the Falcons were beaten by Notre Dame 34-31 in overtime.
2001 – The Falcons started 4-1, including wins over Navy and Wyoming, but a 63-33 blowout loss to No. 13 BYU in Week 6 sent Air Force reeling. The team finished 6-6.
2002 – Six straight wins to start the season had Air Force rolling. But three straight losses, beginning with a 21-14 loss to No. 7 Notre Dame at Falcon Stadium, brought the Falcons down.
2003 – Again, Air Force began the season strong, going 5-0. But the Falcons went 2-5 down the stretch to finish 7-5 and fourth in the MWC in DeBerry’s final winning season.
2004 – A season-ending 47-17 blowout of CSU highlighted an otherwise pedestrian season, in which the Falcons finished 5-6. Air Force twice lost to ranked teams, including to No. 13 California in the season-opener and to No. 14 Utah.
2005 – The season began with an impressive 20-17 win over Washington. But Air Force followed with losses to rivals Wyoming, CSU, Army and Navy. A 42-24 win over New Mexico in the final game gave Air Force a 4-7 record.
2006 – In his final game as Air Force coach, DeBerry and the Falcons lost to TCU 38-14, their fourth straight loss. Air Force lost 39-17 to Notre Dame at Falcon Stadium, but DeBerry led Air Force to wins over CSU and Wyoming. The team finished 4-8. DeBerry finished his career at the Academy with a record of 169-109-1.
Top 10 career highlights
(Note: In no particular order; as of Dec. 2006)
1. Defeated Notre Dame 21-15 at Falcon Stadium in 1985, the fourth of four consecutive victories over the Fighting Irish. DeBerry also beat Notre Dame 21-7 in South Bend, Ind., in his first season, 1984.
2. Won the 1985 Bluebonnet Bowl by defeating Texas 24-16 in Houston, capping a 12-1 season.
3. Defeated BYU 20-13 to win the Western Athletic Conference championship in Las Vegas in 1998, DeBerry’s only outright league title (he led Air Force to two other co-championships). The Falcons went on to win the O’ahu Bowl, 45-25 over Washington.
4. DeBerry won a 15th Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy in 2002 after defeating Army 49-30 and Navy 48-7, the most trophies of any service academy coach. Air Force’s 17 trophies are the most of any academy since the series’ inception in 1972.
5. Won a second consecutive Liberty Bowl in 1991 with a 38-15 victory over Mississippi State. The Falcons jumped to a 21-0 lead and gained 318 rushing yards.
6. Shocked No. 8 Notre Dame with a 20-17 overtime victory on national television in 1996. It was the highest-ranked team DeBerry defeated.
7. Trailing Colorado State 21-3 at halftime in 2006, Air Force rallied for a 24-21 victory in perhaps the Falcons’ best comeback under DeBerry.
8. Lost 45-43 in three overtimes to Utah at Falcon Stadium in 2003 in what might have been the beginning of DeBerry’s end. Air Force was 6-2 going into the game, but is 14-24 since.
9. In a nationally televised night game in 1988, Air Force lost 48-45 to Wyoming in what many consider the best game in WAC history. DeBerry has 12-11 career record against the Cowboys.
10. Quarterback Chance Harridge was ejected in a 2003 game against Northwestern after he exchanged punches with Wildcats coach Randy Walker. Air Force rallied for a 22-21 victory, its second win in as many years over the Wildcats. Walker refused to shake DeBerry’s hand after the game.
In select company
Among active coaches, only Penn State’s Joe Paterno (41 years) and Florida State’s Bobby Bowden (31 years) have spent more time at their schools than Fisher DeBerry did at the Air Force Academy. The six other Mountain West Conference teams that were in the Western Athletic Conference when DeBerry took over in 1984 have made a combined 23 coaching changes during DeBerry’s tenure. His last contemporary from 1984, BYU’s LaVell Edwards, retired after 2000.
School-1984 coach-Number of coaches since
BYU-LaVell Edwards-2
CSU-Leon Fuller-2
New Mexico-Joe Lee Dunn-3
Utah-Chuck Stobart-4
San Diego St.-Doug Scovil-5
Wyoming-Al Kincaid-6
LONGEST TENURES AMONG ACTIVE HEAD COACHES
Coach (School-Seasons)
Joe Paterno (Penn State-41)
Bobby Bowden (Florida State-31)
Fisher DeBerry (Air Force-23)
Frank Beamer (Virginia Tech-20)
Larry Blakeney (Troy-16)
Jeff Bower (Southern Mississippi-16)
Note: Through 2006
CAREER WINS AMONG ACTIVE COACHES
Coach (School-Victories)
Bobby Bowden (Florida State-365)
Joe Paterno (Penn State-364)
Frank Beamer (Virginia Tech-198)
Chris Ault (Nevada-185)
Dennis Franchione (Texas A&M-180)
Mack Brown (Texas-178)
Fisher DeBerry (Air Force-169)
Mike Price (UTEP-150)
Phillip Fulmer (Tennessee-137)
Sonny Lubick (Colorado State-130)
Glen Mason (Minnesota-123)
Mike Bellotti (Oregon-118)
Note: Totals before 2006 bowl games
Notable players under DeBerry
Chad Hennings, DT, 1984-87: Consensus All-American, Outland Trophy winner, WAC defensive player of the decade, won three Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys, college football Hall of Fame member.
Terry Maki, LB, 1983-86: All-WAC in 1985-86, made 25 tackles vs. Wyoming in 1986.
Dee Dowis, QB, 1986-89: Sixth-place finish in 1989 Heisman Trophy voting, the highest-ever finish for an AFA player, WAC offensive player of the year in 1989, school record-holder for most yards rushing in a game (249 vs. San Diego State, 1989), became the fifth player in NCAA history to rush and pass from more than 1,000 yards in a season (1989)
Beau Morgan, QB, 1994-96: Became the first player in NCAA history to rush and pass for more than 1,000 yards twice (1995-96), finalist for O’Brien national quarterback award in 1996, school record-holder for career rushing touchdowns (42), finished 10th in the 1996 Heisman Trophy voting.
Bart Weiss, QB, 1983-86: Was at the Falcons’ helm for two of their four consecutive wins over Notre Dame, led Air Force to victories in the 1984 Independence Bowl and the 1985 Bluebonnet Bowl.
Carlton McDonald, CB, 1989-92: Consensus All-American in 1992, finalist for Jim Thorpe Award for top defensive back, ranks second all-time at AFA for most career interceptions (16), school-record three blocked kicks against Colorado State in 1990.
Scott Thomas, S, 1982-85: Consensus All-American in 1985, All-WAC in 1985, scored on a punt return, kickoff return and an interception return for touchdowns all in one season (1985)
Tim Curry, CB, 1996-98: School record-holder for career blocked kicks with nine, two-time finalist for Tatupu special teams player of the year award, nine career interceptions.
Chris Gizzi, ILB, 1994, 96-97: Second team All-America, two-time WAC defensive player of the year (1996-97), lead the WAC in tackles (179) in 1997, played with the Green Bay Packers.
Source: Air Force Academy
