He was a three-sport athlete at Ohio State University and a consensus first-team selection to the College Football All-America Team three straight years (1928–1930).

Jock Sutherland, the University of Pittsburgh coach, called Fesler "a one man team.

Fesler ignored interest from teams of the National Football League and instead pursued a career in coaching.

In 1941, Fesler accepted an offer from Wesleyan University to be the head coach of their football team.

Fesler's 1949 Ohio State team was the Big Ten Conference co-champion and beat California in the Rose Bowl.

Fesler developed the talents of 1950 Heisman Trophy winner Vic Janowicz at Ohio State and two-time Big Ten MVP Paul Giel at Minnesota.

His combined record as a major college football head coach, at Pitt, Ohio State, and Minnesota, was 34–31–8.

Fesler died on July 30, 1989, at the Palm Terrace Rest Home in Laguna Hills, California.