Craig County football coach Jimmy Fisher announced this week that he’ll be back for the 2025 season.
That’s good news for county football fans, as Jimmy has been one of the most successful coaches in the history of the program. A graduate of New Castle High School and a former player for the Rockets, he took over a team that had a 9-61 record in the seven seasons prior to his taking the job. With Fisher at the helm the team has won 12 games in the past four years, including a 6-5 record this past season and the first trip to the VHSL playoffs in a dozen years. Craig lost in the first round to Grayson County, who went on to win Region 1C and play in the state championship game at Salem Stadium.
With a young roster, Fisher expects the team to be even better next year.
“Next season has the potential to be better,” said Fisher. “(All-Region junior Carter) Calfee returns and there are several other really good backs as well. Isaiah Nichols is going to be a beast and Noah Paxton is going to run over some opponents. Dreydin Smith ran for well over 200 yards in the last JV game and will also be in the backfield mix. All of the offensive linemen are underclassmen.”
Not only did the varsity have a winning season but the jayvees finished 4-1 and were just six inches away from going 5-0. They’ll only get better.
“We have a really solid 10th grade class and an outstanding freshmen group,” said Fisher. “The freshman class has everything. . .a bunch of big linemen, running backs, receivers and a couple of kids that throw the ball really well.”
Fisher also sells real estate in addition to coaching the team and serving on the Craig County High School faculty. He didn’t promise a long run as head coach when he took the job, but he’s built the program up and decided to stick around to see the job through.
“We lose three offensive starters and four or five defensive starters,” he said. “The proverbial cupboard is loaded.”