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CEO: Transition from War Room to Board Room

Air Force\'s Fisher DeBerry blends old-school pedigree with new-school approach
by: Aaron S. Lee
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It doesn’t take an expert to see how the game of football has evolved over the past few decades. Coaches like Paul “Bear” Bryant and Vince Lombardi could focus more on the X’s and O’s than the multitude of hurdles that face today’s modern coaches.

Head coaches today more closely resemble Fortune 500 chief executive officers than they do their coaching counterparts back in the 20th century. Coaches today are teachers, parents, fundraisers, psychologists, strategists, politicians and role models all rolled into one. Perhaps the best example of this new breed of coach is Fisher DeBerry, a man who was actually forged in the old-school coaching fire.

“I recently told one of my younger coaches who has a desire to become a head coach that he’d never have as much fun being a head coach as he was having as an assistant right now,” said the United States Air Force Academy head coach, DeBerry. “Becoming a head football coach opens not just one door, but many and they all must be addressed.”

DeBerry, who just completed his 20th season as the Falcons head coach, has done more with less than perhaps anyone in the country. Forget the fact that Air Force is amongst the hardest institutions academically – anywhere. Forget the fact that the Academy’s enrollment is a meager 4,300 – a paltry figure compared to the 48,000 of Ohio State or 50,000 of Texas. Forget the fact that Air Force does not garner million dollar paydays from mega-conference bowl tie-ins. And, forget the fact that being a football player is probably third or fourth on the list of priorities of a Cadet that will perhaps one day give their life on a battlefield to ensure America’s freedom.

DeBerry’s teams get respect the old fashioned way – they line up and beat you for it.

Only Penn State’s Joe Paterno and Florida State’s Bobby Bowden have longer active tenures at one school with 38 and 28 years respectively. Not bad for a guy that grew up in Cheraw, S.C., (pop. 5,505) where the only thing that outnumbered the ballparks were the watermelon patches and cotton fields.

“A lot of times I try to tell people if you see a turtle sitting on a post, you have to understand that he didn’t get there by himself,” said DeBerry. “Someone put him there. We don’t do anything in life completely by ourselves ... we have family, friends and colleagues to help us get were we are. At the Academy we have recruiting coordinators, video coordinators, strength and conditioning coaches, stadium managers, assistant coaches and athletes that do such a great job at taking pride and ownership in our program ... they do a much bigger job than I do. I am just the lucky guy with a title.”

After serving as an assistant coach during 1980-83 with the Academy, located in Colorado Springs, Colo., DeBerry was instantly catapulted into the spotlight after posting an 8-4 inaguaral campaign followed by a 12-1 sophomore year that ended in a ranking as high as fifth in the UPI (Coaches) Poll.

While those numbers are impressive by anyone’s standards, here is an interesting stat to ponder: DeBerry’s 20 wins after his first two seasons is the same number Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops posted while guiding the Sooners to a national championship in just his second season. Impressive, huh?

“The pressure of winning games has become greater and greater each year,” he said. “The first thing fans, alumnus and boosters ask is how many games are we going to win and what bowl game we are going to play in.

“Plus, the head coach must attend numerous booster functions each week. I have about seven or eight hours each week that is consumed during booster functions and luncheons, and although it is a necessity it really takes a bite out of your time. I am ashamed to say that I have a stack of correspondence on my desk that dates back six weeks and I still haven’t found the time to respond. Not to mention community needs because if you want the community to support your program you had better support the community. I currently have 15 requests for speaking engagements, so that is 25 nights (including travel time) that I will be away from my family, which I still have to find time for.”

DeBerry entered the 2003 season trying to build on several key numbers including his being eighth among active coaches with 149 wins. He had also won conference coach of the year honors three times (1985, ‘95, ‘98) and national coach of the year honors once (1985). Not to mention that DeBerry has coached his Falcons to 12 bowl games, three conference titles, 16 winning seasons - including 10 seasons with at least eight wins.

“I think that you have to get great experience,” said DeBerry regarding advice for up-and-comers. “That doesn’t mean you have to change jobs every two years just to say you coached with ol’ so-and-so. However, variety can be good because you’ll pick up different ways to skin a cat, so to speak.

“But the most important thing is to just be yourself and not lose your own identity. Don’t follow anyone else’s philosophy or personality, and surround yourself with people that possess your values. I’ve never hired a guy just because he was a great football coach, I’ve hired people more because they are good people – that is the foundation for our program here at the Academy.”






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