Washington Huskies head coach Jedd Fisch was one of 20 college head coaches named to the 2026 Dodd Trophy preseason watch list on Thursday.
Fisch, a finalist for the 2023 Dodd Trophy during in his final season at Arizona, is one of seven coaches from the Big Ten Conference named to the upcoming season’s watch list, the most from any one conference. When Fisch made the list of five finalists in 2023, which was ultimately won by Florida State’s Mike Norvell, he wasn’t named to either the preseason or midseason watch list for the award.
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Per a press release, this year’s watch list was created through a selection process by the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc., taking into consideration each program’s Academic Progress Rate (APR), Graduation Success Rate (GSR), commitment to service and charity in the community, as well as projected success for the 2026 season.
UW boasted an APR of 991 from 2024-25 to make Fisch eligible for the preseason honor. He followed that with a 9-4 overall record last season, setting the Huskies up for a promising 2026 campaign worthy of accolades for both the players and Fisch.
“For more than five decades, the Dodd Trophy has established itself as the most coveted head coaching award in college football because it represents more than just wins on the field,” Chairman of the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation Jim Terry said in a press release.
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“Equally as important, we also focus on a coach’s impact on developing student-athletes in the classroom and within their communities. As a result, consideration is limited to coaches who have set a standard of academic excellence and have spent at least two seasons leading their current programs, allowing them time to build a culture of success on and off the field.”
Several UW players, including returning starting left guard John Mills and quarterback Demond Williams Jr., have received multiple preseason honors prior to Fisch receiving the Dodd Trophy preseason honors.
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Washington Football Coach Named to Dodd Trophy Preseason Watch List
