To a former Air Force Academy colleague, Fisher DeBerry defined “icon.” To his Mountain West Conference adversaries, DeBerry deserved every bit of the respect he received. But most of all, everyone regards DeBerry first as a friend.
“When you say icon, Fisher DeBerry would suffice to define what an icon is,” said former AFA men’s basketball coach Reggie Minton, now an executive with the National Association of Basketball Coaches. “He promoted everything good about the Air Force Academy, college athletics and college football.”
When Minton’s contract was not renewed after the 1999-2000 season, he said “nothing ever changed between the two of us. When you’re down, it helps to have someone there who cares and that was definitely the case with Fisher.”
Colorado State’s Sonny Lubick, now the dean of MWC football coaches, forged a friendship with the retired Air Force coach that transcended the intense competition of some of their classic battles.
“To me, before he is a coach, he’s a genuine friend who cares about other people. For my family, I thank him for being there in tough times,” Lubick said of DeBerry’s support last spring when Lubick’s son Marc underwent cancer treatment.
From a coaching standpoint, Lubick said: “No one around the country has done more for college football than Fisher. He is one of the most respected men in our profession and deserved every bit of it.”
Wyoming coach Joe Glenn thinks the game is losing a legend.
“Not many coaches have impact on the game of football like Fisher,” Glenn said. “He’s one of the finest this business ever had. He will be missed by everyone in the family of college football.”
Broncos general manager Ted Sundquist was a fullback at Air Force when DeBerry was an assistant coach from 1980-83 before becoming head coach in 1984. Sund- quist later was an assistant for him.
“Fisher DeBerry was a coach, boss, mentor and I hate to sound corny, but a friend. I have a lot of emotions going on right now,” Sundquist said. “No one, I mean no one, meant more to Air Force Academy football than Fisher DeBerry.”
American Football Coaches Association executive director Grant Teaff, whose friendship with DeBerry goes back decades, was one of the first people DeBerry spoke to Friday after his retirement announcement.
“Today the great game of football lost one of its greatest coaches and greatest representatives,” Teaff said. “He was a consummate leader throughout every aspect of the AFCA. He was president and chaired the ethics committee. He is truly one of the most revered and highly thought of men ever known in the profession.”
Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
