Randy Fichtner is in his first season coaching the Steelers’ quarterbacks after spending three seasons as the team’s wide receivers coach. He joined the Steelers after serving the previous six seasons at the University of MemÂ*phis. Fichtner was hired by Mike Tomlin on Jan. 29, 2007.
In 2009 the Steelers had two 1,000-yard receivers. Hines Ward posted his club-record sixth 1,000-yard receiving season while Santonio Holmes posted his first career 1,000 yard receiving season, leading the team with 1,248 yards on 79 receptions. Rookie Mike Wallace led all AFC rookies 756 receiving yards and added six touchdowns to the season.
Fichtner’s receiving core had an excellent season in 2008 as Ward topped 1,000 yards (1,043) for the fifth time in his career, and Holmes was named MVP of Super Bowl XLIII after catching nine passes for 131 yards (14.6 avg.) including the game-winning touchdown reception with 35 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
Under the tutelage of Fichtner, Ward and Holmes matched their reception total from 2006 (123), while increasing their TD catches from eight in 2006 to 15 in 2007.
Fichtner, who instituted the spread offense at Memphis, was an integral part of the Tiger football team for six years. He was hired in 2001 to serve as the offensive coorÂ*dinator and quarterbacks coach, and his offense re-wrote the Memphis record book for six seasons.
Under Fichtner’s direction, former Tiger quarterback Danny Wimprine emerged as one of the top passers in Conference-USA in 2003.
In 2004, All-American running back in DeAngelo Williams led an offense that lived up to the billing and finished the year ranked ninth nationally in total offense and 10th in the nation in scoring.
Fichtner was a part of unprecedented offensive success at Memphis that also conÂ*tributed to the Tigers playing in three straight bowl games from 2003-05.
The 2002 squad set a record for total offense with 4,258 yards, and then the 2003 team shattered that mark with 5,779 yards of total offense. In 2004, the Tigers amassed 5,524 yards of total offense to rank second all-time. The 2004 Tigers also set school records in points scored with 430 and in passing touchdowns with 25.
Fichtner was no stranger to Memphis when he joined the staff in 2001. He had preÂ*viously served as an assistant for the Tigers. Prior to his second stint at Memphis, Fichtner spent four years (1997-2000) at Arkansas State University. He arrived in Jonesboro as the quarterback coach in the spring of 1997 and was promoted to ofÂ*fensive coordinator in August of 1997.
During his tenure with the Indians, Fichtner worked with quarterback Cleo Lemon, who set virtually every Arkansas State passing and total offense record.
Prior to joining the staff at Arkansas State, Fichtner spent three years at his alma mater, Purdue, serving as wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator from 1994-96.
The Cleveland, Ohio, native originally went to Memphis in the fall of 1990 and coached the Tiger receivers and quarterbacks for four seasons. During his stay at Memphis, Fichtner worked with St. Louis Rams All-Pro wide receiver Isaac Bruce.
Fichtner, 46, worked as a student assistant and graduate assistant at Purdue (1985-86) and at Michigan (1986-87), before serving as a volunteer coach at SouthÂ*ern California in 1988. He landed his first full-time position in 1989 as the tight ends coach at UNLV and worked for the Rebels for one season before coming to Memphis.
Fichtner graduated from Purdue in 1985 with a bachelor’s degree in health promoÂ*tion. He is married to the former Jennifer Parker of Covington, Tenn., and the couple has three children: a son, Nathaniel Ross (14), and daughters, Shelby Brooke (15) and Kirby Lynn (10).
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