Treadwell Names Fisher, Willis to Coaching Staff
1/14/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Jan. 14, 2011
OXFORD, Ohio - Charlie Fisher, formerly at Vanderbilt, and Zak Willis, previously at Michigan State, have joined the Miami Football coaching staff, Head Coach Don Treadwell announced today. Fisher will hold the title of passing game coordinator, working with the quarterbacks and wide receivers, while Willis will be special teams coach and recruiting coordinator.
"I worked with Charlie at North Carolina State and I can tell you that he made our players better, both on and off the field," Treadwell said. "Zak is one of the most organized people I know and will be a great recruiter for us."
Fisher spent the last nine seasons with the Commodores, coaching the wide receivers while serving as the passing game coordinator. He also mentored the team's running backs during the 2002 and 2003 seasons.
Before joining Vanderbilt, he served two years as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Temple and had a two-year stint tutoring North Carolina State receivers, including likely NFL Hall of Famer Torry Holt. Fisher's background includes a successful tenure as head coach at West Georgia from 1993-97. While there, he led the Division II Braves to a 36-17 overall record. He also served as an offensive coach at Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) College from 1985-90.
Fisher played quarterback and wide receiver from 1977-80 at Springfield (Mass.) College. He also lettered as a shortstop in baseball. He earned his B.S. in physical education. Fisher earned a M.A. in sports management from Eastern Kentucky in 1984. He has served as a grad assistant at both EKU and Ole Miss.
Fisher and his wife, Julie, have two sons: Brian and Brett.
Willis, who has nine years of head coaching experience at the collegiate level, just finished his second year as a graduate assistant at Michigan State, his first in an on-the-field capacity. Willis assisted the offensive staff, working primarily with the offensive line.
In six years as the head coach at Newberry College from 2003-08, Willis led the program to a 39-25 record. His winning percentage of .609 is the highest of any football coach in Newberry history. Willis directed the Indians to their best season in school history in 2006, as Newberry finished the season with an 11-2 record and captured its first-ever South Atlantic Conference Championship. The Scarlet and Gray made their first appearance in the NCAA Division II Playoffs, advancing to the quarterfinal round. For his efforts, Willis was named the SAC Coach of the Year in 2006.
Prior to coaching at Newberry College, Willis was the head coach for three seasons at Pikeville (Ky.) College. Willis was a graduate assistant at South Carolina for four years before coaching at Pikeville, serving under head coaches Brad Scott and Lou Holtz as the tight ends coach and assistant to the recruiting coordinator. Willis began his collegiate coaching career at Greenville (Ill.) College, where he was the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator from 1992-96.
Willis is married to the former Sara Ratliff. The couple has a son, Zackary, and a daughter, Reagan.
