Fighting Falcons
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FSU
Bryan Fisher is in his second season as offensive coordinator at Fairmont State. Fisher brings to Fairmont State a variety of expertise and experience after coaching stints at nearly every level of football, from high school all the way to Division I. In his first season at the helm of the Falcon offense, the dynamic and demanding Fisher helped increase Fairmont State’s scoring average by nearly 10 points from a year ago to 28.5 points per game, including a 63-point outburst against WV State – the most points scored by Fairmont State in 15 years. The Falcons scored 20 points or more in all but four games, and racked up 40 points or more on three different occasions.
The Fisher File
Bryan Fisher
Michael Fortier
Offensive Coordinator
Defensive Line
Second Season
Tenth Season
Fisher also helped mentor quarterback Logan Moore to WVIAC Offensive Freshman of the Year honors – the first Fairmont State player to earn that recognition. Moore’s freshman season ranked among the best in school history in terms of yards, touchdowns and total offense. In addition to his prowess as an offensive coach, Fisher has also proven to be a tireless recruiter. His competitive nature carries over on the recruiting trail where he consistently beats out other programs to bring talented players to Fairmont State. Fisher came to Fairmont State after seven seasons as head coach at RCB. He compiled an overall record of 58-28 and led the Flying Eagles to appearances into the state playoffs in five of his seven seasons. He also helped RCB to the only undefeated regular season in school history in 2007. Before being named head coach at RCB in 2002 he was the offensive coordinator at Liberty High School for three seasons (1997-99). He got his coaching start as the offensive coordinator at Liberty in 1994 where he coached
future Fairmont State standout quarterback Bryan Harman. He then spent one season as a student assistant at Fairmont State in 1995. Fisher spent the next two seasons (1996-97) as an offensive line graduate assistant coach under Rick Trickett at Auburn before returning to Liberty in 1997 to become the offensive coordinator. Fisher, a Clarksburg native, graduated from Liberty in 1989. He went on to play for coach Terry Bowden at Samford where he helped the Bulldogs to two appearances in the national playoffs and left the school as the career leader in receptions by a tight end.
• 2010: Offensive Coordinator, Fairmont State • 2002-09: Head Coach, Robert C. Byrd High School (*58-28, five appearances in state playoffs) • 1997-99: Offensive Coordinator, Liberty High School • 1996-97: Offensive Line, Graduate Assistant, Auburn University • 1995: Offensive Line, Fairmont State • 1994: Offensive Coordinator, Liberty High School • 1989-92: Tight End, Samford (*Four-year starter, Two-time national playoffs, career leader in receptions for a tight end) • 1986-88: Lettered at Liberty High School
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Michael Fortier begins his tenth year as Fairmont State’s defensive line coach. Fortier is a mastermind teacher of technique and an excellent motivator who simply gets the most of out his unit year in and year out. Fortier has coached players to 20 All-WVIAC selections, including 11 first team selections in his nine years with the line. Fortier helped coach Luke Black to first team All-WVIAC honors in each of the last two seasons and second team all-region honors in 2009. In 2008, defensive end David Hill earned All-America honors and Black, whose 11 sacks led the WVIAC and were second-most in a single season at Fairmont State, garnered second team all-league honors. In 2007, prolific defensive ends Jacob Owens and Brandon Geary earned All-WVIAC honors, while noseguard Jessie Valentine was named second team all-conference. Owens got several looks from NFL teams, and he and Geary left their mark on Fairmont State’s record book for sacks and tackles for a loss. In 2006, Valentine was again a second team all-conference pick, Geary and Owens were All-WVIAC honorable mention selections. Nick Shreve (2004), Dustin Haas (2004), Arlen Holmes (2003), Damian Birch (2002-03) and Damion Graham (2002) all earned first team AllWVIAC honors under Fortier’s tutelage. Several of those players also dot Fairmont State’s defensive record book in tackles and sacks. Fortier played at Fairmont State from 19972000 after transferring from Ohio University. In his four seasons, Fortier was a part of two WVIAC championship teams. He amassed 222 career tackles, and his 22 career sacks are tied for third all-time at Fairmont State. He was a first team AllWVIAC selection at defensive end as a senior after 58 tackles, eight tackles for a loss and four sacks. The Fairmont State Athletic Association awarded Fortier the prestigious Jasper H. Colebank Award, which is given to the senior who in the course of his college career had done the most to promote the best interests of athletics at Fairmont State. Fortier had an outstanding career at Liberty High School in Clarksburg. While there, he was an
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all-state football player for his former coach Tom Hilton. He was also a West Virginia heavyweight champion in wrestling his senior year. He played basketball his senior year at Liberty and was the only athlete in the state to participate in both basketball and wrestling at the same time. He attended Ohio University for one year on a wrestling scholarship before opting to pursue football at Fairmont State. Michael’s father, Matt Fortier, played football for the Falcons in the late 1960s and was inducted into the Fairmont State Athletic Hall of Fame in
2008. The elder Fortier was a first team All-WVIAC player, a member of the 1967 national championship team and WVIAC Defensive Player of the Year before being drafted by the New York Giants. Michael’s mother, Clara, is also a Fairmont State graduate. He is married to the former Diana Dicken of Fairmont, and the two have a daughter, Madison, and a son, Maximus. Fortier teaches physical education and health at Lincoln High School.
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