'Let's get it done': Chris Fisk Introduced as New Head Football Coach at Press Conference at Providence Park

The more than 100 people gathered at Providence Park to welcome PSU’s 15th Head Football Coach Chris Fisk heard lots of words beginning with “re”…reintroduction, restart, rebuild, reignite.

And the fiery words from PSU president Ann Cudd, Athletic Director Matt Billings, newly appointed Football General Manager Rashad Floyd and, finally, Fisk seemed to have the crowd believing at the Providence Park-hosted event.

“I haven’t been this excited about PSU football since Mouse Davis recruited me to play on our first national championship contender,” said former player Bill Hanson among a number who'd come to hear the new head coach.

First up was President Cudd.

“I’m a football fan, as you know. And we’ll be reintroducing Viking football, a program that has done amazing things in the past and will light up the city even more in the future,” she told the assembly, which included all four Portland television stations and an array of print media reporters and bloggers. “I’m excited for this restart because it’s going to be a win for PSU and a win for the City of Portland.”

Saying PSU was embracing a new era, Billings introduced Floyd, a former All-American Viking defensive back who also played on the program’s first FCS Playoff team, as the team’s new General Manager. The Emmy award winner will have a wide range of duties, including galvanizing community, business and alumni partners to inspire support for the program.

“We know how to win. We know how to win when others doubted us, when others counted us out,” said the PSU Hall of Famer. “I’m excited to formally embrace a new leadership level in this next era of PSU football,” he said.

Floyd’s emphasis was on developing student-athletes for their roles in life after graduation.

“So many of us have become accomplished professionals…CEO’s, directors, lieutenants, captains, entrepreneurs, creators, publishers and, most importantly, great husbands and great fathers. We know how to win. But we also understand that football is just a vehicle. It’s not the destination,” he said.  

He said he was excited about being a part of “reigniting the deep connection between the Viking football team and the city of Portland.”

Introducing Fisk, Billings pointed to his background in turning around programs.

At NAIA Southern Oregon University, Fisk took a program from a 3-7 record to 13-2 and a national championship in four years. At Division II Central Washington, his most recent stop, his teams won three conference titles, made three straight playoff appearances and developed 116 all-conference players and 37 All-Americans.

“He knows how to get it done,” Billings said of Fisk. He’ll help reintroduce the program to the city, he said.

Fisk said he sees the PSU program’s potential as phenomenal. “We’ve got world class educational facilities, a world class campus and an urban setting to sell. Some people use that against us, but I want to get players and their parents on campus to see what’s really here and why there are so many advantages to considering us and Portland as a great place to play and get an education (his first group of potential recruits was on campus the next day).”

He spoke about playing most home games in Hillsboro. “The football field there is 100 yards long and 53 and a third yards wide whether it’s at Providence Park (“where we hope to have additional games in the future”) or Hillsboro. That’s no excuse not to be successful.”

He touted the cooperation and atmosphere created by the PSU staff and administration.

“I’ve only been on campus two days. If I need something or ask for something, I got it within hours, not days or weeks,” he said.

Fisk said he’d nearly completed his all-new-to-Portland State coaching staff. That, along with bringing back players who’ve been involved with the program, are among the keys to its reignition.

“We’re in the business of building great people. I’ve brought people who are character builders. They are people who care about the players deeper than just about what they can do on the field. I believe winning starts in the classroom. Discipline and accountability start there,” Fisk said.

He spoke of walking past the pictures of former PSU players who had professional careers in the NFL and CFL.

“We are going to rebuild this program. It’s already been done over the years. We’ll reignite the fire that is PSU football. Portland is a sports city thirsting for a successful football team. Let’s get it done,” he said.