DeBerry Makes Coaching Top 10 List
8/15/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 15, 2002
Football coach Fisher DeBerry isn't ready to retire to the rocking chair just yet, but he did receive a compliment, of sorts, from Orlando Sentinel writers Mike Huguenin and Alan Schmadtke.
In a copywrited story printed in the Florida newspaper on Wednesday, Aug. 15, the two writers ranked the top 10 football coaches aged 55 and over.
The 64-year-old DeBerry was ranked eighth in the country with the notation that he has a .657 winning percentage at Air Force.
Huguenin and Schmadtke wrote: "These guys may be eligible for AARP benefits, but we still wouldn't mind them coaching our team."
Ranked first on the Sentinel's list was South Carolina's Lou Holtz at age 65. DeBerry's long-time coaching friend Ken Hatfield from Rice was ranked tenth. Hatfield, who coached at Air Force from 1979 through 1984, hired DeBerry as his offensive coordinator in 1980.
DeBerry has guided the Falcons to 15 winning seasons since taking over in 1984. He's guided the Academy to three conference championships. Air Force won the Western Athletic Conference title in 1985 and again in 1995. In 1998, DeBerry guided the team to its first out-right title and a championship game win over Brigham Young. His 1998 team matched the school record with a 12-1 season while earning him his third coach of the year award.
The Cheraw, S.C., native has done it all at Air Force. He is the winningest coach in school history with a 141-78-1 mark. He stands second in Mountain West Conference history in career wins with 84, trailing only close friend LaVell Edwards of BYU.
Here is the Sentinel's complete rankings:
1. Lou Holtz, South Carolina, 65
2. Bill Snyder, Kansas St., 62
3. Joe Tiller, Purdue, 59
4. Mike Price, Washington St., 56
5. Joe Paterno, Penn St., 75
6. Bobby Bowden, Florida St., 72
7. Sonny Lubick, Colorado St., 65
8. Fisher DeBerry, Air Force, 64
9. Dennis Erickson, Oregon St., 55
10. Ken Hatfield, Rice, 59
