New UW Football Assistant Cavanaugh, QB Coach Losman Detail Roles

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Outside of one year in 2004 with the Baltimore Ravens when Jedd Fisch was a young, but experienced, rising quality control coach in the National Football League, the Washington Huskies' offensive staff hasn't even worked together.

Yet, after the third-year head coach spoke about the additions of senior offensive assistant Matt Cavanaugh and first-year quarterbacks coach JP Losman, you wouldn't surmise that the trio hadn't spent the past years together on the same staff, hearing each talk about why they work well together.

"He called and said there might be an opening. Would you have any interest?" Cavanaugh said, recalling the offer from Fisch to join his staff, "And I said I would have interest because of you."

Two weeks later, Fisch flew Cavanaugh out to Seattle for a formal interview and for the longtime assistant to meet the rest of the UW staff. Instantly, the former University of Pittsburgh 1976 National Champion and Sugar Bowl MVP felt a connection with the rest of the offensive staff.

For the past two seasons, since Fisch took over on Montlake in January 2024, ex-offensive coordinator Jimmie Dougherty had been the eyes in the sky. Now, with Losman promoted to full-time QB coach from an assistant role in 2025, he'll be on the sidelines talking things through with junior quarterback Demond Williams Jr., while Cavanaugh fills the seat in the box on the headset with Fisch and Losman.

"To have both of those guys working with Demond and our offense this year will be great," Fisch added. "We (Cavanaugh) share a lot in the verbiage and how we coach the position. The offense is very similar to what he was around. Then he went to the (New York) Jets with Mike LaFleur. Again, part of the same coaching tree. So, he's been around this offense for a while."

Last season, with Williams Jr. in his first season as the Huskies' starting quarterback, the offense improved from No. 12 to No. 4 in the Big Ten Conference in scoring (from 23.4 points per game to 34.1), but dropped from No. 5 to No. 6 when it comes to passing yards per game (down to 244.5 from 261.7).

The team improved its overall win total by three to finish 9-4 overall in Fisch's second season, which in itself was a positive step in the right direction. With another full year in strength and conditioning coach Tyler Owens' program for the offensive line and more than enough pieces around Williams Jr. at all three skill positions, the loss at Wisconsin and falling off in the fourth quarter against Ohio State, Michigan, and Oregon that left a sour taste in 2025 can't find a way to happen again this coming fall.

Adding Cavanaugh, who last worked in college as the offensive coordinator at Pitt from 2005-09 before jumping back to the NFL for what proved to be a 25-plus year career with the Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears,, San Francisco 49ers, Washington Commanders, Jets and Ravens, will provide both Fisch and Losman a true outside voice with authority — well versed and seasons to give as best of insight as any coach.

"I have no problem with the head coach calling plays," Cavanaugh said. "I've been around plenty of coaches that have wanted to call plays, and they have their method. Jedd's been outstanding at calling plays. I looked at my role here as just seeing what I could add. He knows that I've got some history with college football, pro football, as a player (and) as a coach. I think he wants somebody to be a sounding board, and I will do that. I won't hold back if there's something I want to ask or criticize or compliment. And I think that's a big part of it."

At 69 years old, Cavanaugh is undoubtedly the more senior UW staffer by age — by two decades over his now boss, Fisch, and 12 years older than running backs coach Scottie Graham, who one could argue comes off younger than the Huskies head coach depending on who you ask.

However, after experiencing the "retired" life, he was more than excited to put on a black hoodie with a purple UW crest on the chest and sit beside Losman, who jokingly claimed to be the youngest full-time Husky assistant, and Graham to discuss his decision to rejoin his former quality control coach.

"It gives me the fulfillment of being back in football," Cavanaugh said. "I missed it. You retire, and you think 'Oh man, I got it made now my life is going to be so simple'. Don't retire. It gets kind of boring. You're like, you wake up, and you're not sure what you're going to do that day. But knowing that I'm coming into the office early in the morning and staying until late at night, I'm really excited about that."

This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Washington Football Coaches JP Losman, Matt Cavanaugh Discuss Roles

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