Former Lindenwood-Belleville football coach Fisher promoted to defensive coordinator at Washington University

Former Lindenwood-Belleville head coach and McKendree assistant Jeff Fisher was promoted to defensive coordinator at Washington University in St. Louis on Wednesday by Beara head football coach Larry Kindbom.

Fisher had been working as special teams coordinator and tight ends coach. He received the promotion when Wash. U. assistant Jim Ryan left to take the head coaching position at Rhodes College.

“I am excited Jeff Fisher has decided to make Washington University and our football program his home. Jeff is an outstanding young coach. He brings so much experience to the table, having served as a coordinator on both sides of the ball, as well as having been a head coach at the collegiate level,” Kindbom said. “. He understands Washington University; he is a tremendous competitor and teacher. I look forward to Jeff, his wife Meg, and his children in their being a part of the Washington University family.”

Fisher was added to the Bears’ coaching staff for the 2015 season as a part-time coach after spending three seasons as head coach at NAIA Lindenwood-Belleville. He will begin his duties as a full-time staff member at Wash. U. on Feb. 15.

Fisher has 23 years of college coaching experience, including 16 as a member of the McKendree University staff. He served as offensive coordinator for the Bearcats, ranking in the top 10 the in NAIA in rushing offense every year from 1997 to 2010. In 2008, McKendree was third in the NAIA in rushing offense after leading the organization in the same category in each of the previous two years.

Fisher was named the Mid-States Football Association Midwest League Assistant Coach of the Year in 1999.

Prior to McKendree, Fisher served as co-defensive coordinator, linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator for two seasons at the University of Dubuque. He began his coaching career in 1993 as the defensive backs coach at his alma mater, Illinois Wesleyan University, after graduating the same year with degrees in history and secondary education.

Fisher was an all-area and all-conference defensive lineman at Carterville High School near Carbondale. He resides in St. Louis with his wife, Meg, and their two children, Nicholas and Elizabeth. Meg served as the diving coach at Wash. U. for 11 years.

This story was originally published February 10, 2016 at 3:19 PM with the headline "Former Lindenwood-Belleville football coach Fisher promoted to defensive coordinator at Washington University."