DeBerry, who made $770,000 last season had more than $2.5 million remaining on the final three years of his contract, will receive an $850,000 settlement spread out over five years along with a monthly annuity of $8,500 for life, which comes from the Air Force Academy Athletic Association and not taxpayer funds.

DeBerry was 35-11 against Army and Navy and led Air Force to 14 Commander-in-Chief’s trophies awarded to the winner of the annual service academy rivalry, but he lost his grip on the trophy as Navy won it the last four years.

He also had problems off the field in recent years.

In 2005, he was criticized after a 48-10 loss to TCU when he said Air Force didn’t have enough “Afro-American” players, singling them out for being able to run well. DeBerry was reprimanded by top brass at the academy and offered a public apology.

In 2004, academy officials asked him to remove a banner from the locker room that included the lines, “I am a Christian first and last ... I am a member of Team Jesus Christ.”

On Friday, he mentioned his faith in his nine-minute farewell, thanking “my Master Coach for leading us to Colorado 26 years ago.”

News of his retirement was met with sadness by players and alumni alike.

“No one — I mean no one — has meant more to Air Force football and maybe academy football than Fisher DeBerry,” said Denver Broncos general manager Ted Sunquist, who played at the academy while DeBerry was an assistant.

“There will never be another Fisher DeBerry. The past few seasons have not been successful from a wins and losses standpoint. I know that frustrated him. And for whatever reason, they just weren’t able to get the thing turned around,” Sunquist said. “But I don’t think his enthusiasm, his love for the game or the program has waned any.”

Meuh praised DeBerry for his tireless work and “countless contributions. He has been a solid role model of all our core values: integrity, service and excellence, in all he has done for us.”

Meuh said he’d like to hire a replacement by the holidays so that recruiting doesn’t suffer. An academy background is a plus but not a prerequisite, he said.

Two years ago, Meuh had to replace basketball coach Chris Mooney and he pledged to make a great hire. Jeff Bzdelik has led the Falcons to a 35-8 record since and a spot in the rankings for the second time in school history.

“He said he gave the same promise back to us,” Carney said.

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