Fisher moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1982 and took an assistant coaching job at the University of Michigan after having served as an assistant coach at Western Michigan University since 1979. In 1989, during the final week of the regular season, Michigan head coach Bill Frieder agreed to take the coaching job at Arizona State University beginning the next season. Frieder intended to coach Michigan through the end of the 1989 NCAA tournament. However, when he told athletic director Bo Schembechler of his intentions, Schembechler ordered Frieder to leave immediately and named Fisher as interim head coach. When announcing the promotion of Fisher, Schembechler famously said, "I don't want someone from Arizona State coaching the Michigan team. A Michigan man is going to coach Michigan."[3]
Initially, Fisher was not expected to retain the position after the season. However, Fisher led the Wolverines to an improbable NCAA championship that season, thanks to a strong performance by forward Glen Rice. Schembechler hired him as the school's permanent head coach a week after the championship game. Fisher hired Brian Dutcher as Assistant Head Coach. Michigan credits the 1988–89 regular season to Frieder and the NCAA tournament to Fisher. Because of the unusual circumstances surrounding the timing of Fisher's hiring, he is the only person to win the NCAA Men's Division I national championship without having ever experienced a loss as the team's head coach.
The next two seasons of the Fisher era were struggles. However, in 1991, Fisher signed one of the most talented incoming freshman classes of all time. High school stars Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Ray Jackson, Jimmy King, and Juwan Howard all signed with Fisher and Michigan, forming what became known as the "Fab Five". Together, they helped lead the Wolverines to the national title game in their freshman year, only to lose to Duke. As sophomores, they again reached the title game, this time losing to North Carolina. In that game, Webber was called for a technical foul with 11 seconds remaining in the game when he signaled for a timeout when the Wolverines had none left.
After the title-game loss to the Tar Heels, Webber went pro; Rose and Howard followed after an elite eight loss to the eventual National Champion Arkansas Razorbacks. The Wolverines would not reach the same heights until 2013, although they reached the postseason each of the next five seasons and won the 1997 National Invitation Tournament.
In October 1997, Michigan fired Fisher as a result of an off-court scandal (see section below).
Fisher was out of coaching for the 1997–98 season before taking a job as an assistant with the Sacramento Kings.
In 1999, Fisher took over as coach of a San Diego State program and brought Brian Dutcher with him. The school had suffered losing records in 13 of the previous 14 years. In the season before he arrived, the Aztecs had won just four games, but within two seasons Fisher had brought the team up to a .500 record, and led them to a 21–12 record and an NCAA Tournament appearance in year three of his regime. He has since led them to seven other NCAA tourneys, and five appearances in the National Invitation Tournament.
In 1997, after it was revealed that Maurice Taylor had visited Ed Martin, a retired Ford electrician and University of Michigan booster, the school launched an investigation. After the investigators questioned Fisher's role in arranging complimentary tickets for Martin, Fisher was fired a week before practice began for the 1997–98 season.
Later, additional facts surfaced that further damaged the program's reputation. In 2002, an indictment unsealed in a Detroit federal court charged Ed Martin with running an illegal gambling operation and money laundering. Additionally, it claimed that Martin gave Webber $280,000 in illicit loans while Webber was in high school and college, with another $336,000 allegedly going to three other former Wolverine players – Taylor, Robert Traylor and Louis Bullock. Martin ultimately pleaded guilty, but died in February 2003.
As a result of the revelations, Michigan imposed its own sanctions on the basketball program in 2002, vacating its two Final Four games from the 1992 NCAA Tournament and its standing as the tournament's runner-up. It also vacated the entire 1992–93 season, as well as every game from 1995–96 to 1998–99. Michigan also withdrew from postseason consideration for the 2002–03 season, and removed the banners hanging in Crisler Arena that commemorated their post-season appearances and removed references to the named players' records. The move came because the payments may have compromised the four players' amateur status. The NCAA accepted Michigan's sanctions, and additionally placed the school on probation until 2006. It also ordered Michigan to disassociate itself from the four players until 2013.
The discoveries did not impact Fisher's career with San Diego State (and no new allegations have occurred in conjunction with that program). Fisher denied any knowledge of the Martin misconduct. The NCAA ultimately faulted Fisher for allowing Martin access to his players (though his ties to Michigan dated to the Frieder era), but otherwise cleared him of wrongdoing.[4]
San Diego State
In 1999, Fisher took over the basketball program at San Diego State University. The Aztecs had not been to the postseason since their NCAA appearance in 1985.
In his third year, Fisher led the Aztecs to their first Mountain West Conference tournament title, and finished with a 21–12 record and continued the upward surge of the program. They returned to the NCAA tournament for the first time since that 1984–1985 team. During the 2002–2003 season (his fourth year), Fisher's Aztecs returned to the postseason when they hosted an NIT first-round game against UCSB. The Aztecs earned their first ever Division I postseason win. After two rebuilding seasons (2003–2004 and 2004–2005), the Aztecs returned to the NCAA Tournament in 2005–2006, Fisher's seventh season. That year, the Aztecs began a 10-year streak of 20+ win seasons while capturing their first ever Mountain West Conference regular season championship, and winning their second Mountain West Conference tournament championship.
In 2009, the Aztecs earned a school-record 26 victories and reached the semifinals of the NIT. It was their third consecutive trip to the NIT, and fourth consecutive postseason appearance. In the 2009–2010 season, the Aztecs won another 20+ games and the Mountain West tournament, earning their third NCAA tournament berth under Fisher. In 2010–2011, the Aztecs, ranked #25 in the preseason AP poll and were ranked #4 late in the season, the highest ranking in school history. The Aztecs received three first-place votes in the coaches' poll at one point, spending nearly the entire season in the top 10 and winning their first-ever NCAA tournament game en route to a Sweet 16 berth. They set a school record in the 2010–11 season with 34 wins. That said, they had only three losses, the first two against Sweet-16 team BYU (whom they beat in MWC tournament championship game) and their third to eventual NCAA champion UConn.
Overall Fisher has guided SDSU to the NCAA Tournament in 2002, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 and the postseason NIT in 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2016 to go along with twelve 20-win seasons (eleven consecutive from 2005–present). Additionally, under Fisher, the Aztecs have won or shared six MWC regular season titles (2006 outright, 2011 shared with BYU, 2012 shared with New Mexico, 2014 outright, 2015 shared with Boise State, 2016 outright), and won four MWC tournaments (2002, 2006, 2010, 2011). Since the 2005–2006 season, Steve Fisher has led the Aztecs to eleven consecutive post-season appearances, including six consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances—the first time the Aztecs have done this as a Division I team.
Steve Fisher won his 300th game as SDSU head coach on January 31, 2014, against Colorado State University.
On October 29, 2015, SDSU dedicated the basketball court at Viejas Arena to Fisher, naming it Steve Fisher Court.[5]
On April 10, 2017, Fisher reportedly informed SDSU of his intent to retire, which was followed by a formal announcement the following day that confirmed his retirement.[6]
National championPostseason invitational champion Conference regular season championConference regular season and conference tournament champion Division regular season championDivision regular season and conference tournament champion Conference tournament champion
*Fisher served as interim coach during the 1989 NCAA tournament after Bill Frieder resigned. Michigan credits the 1988–89 regular season to Frieder and the NCAA tournament to Fisher.
^Michigan vacated its two 1992 Final Four games and its status as tournament runner-up. Official record is 24–8.
^^Entire season, including postseason tournament appearances, later vacated by the school.
Michigan total record includes games subsequently vacated by the school.
Glenn Edward "Bo" Schembechler Jr. was an American college football player, coach, and athletic administrator. He served as the head football coach at Miami University from 1963 to 1968 and at the University of Michigan from 1969 to 1989, compiling a career record of 234 wins, 65 losses and 8 ties. Only Nick Saban, Joe Paterno and Tom Osborne have recorded 200 victories in fewer games as a coach in major college football. In his 21 seasons as the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines, Schembechler's teams amassed a record of 194–48–5 and won or shared 13 Big Ten Conference titles. Though his Michigan teams never won a national championship, in all but one season they finished ranked, and 16 times they placed in the final top ten of both major polls.
The 1989 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 16, 1989, and ended with the championship game on April 3 in Seattle. A total of 63 games were played.
William Samuel Frieder is a former basketball coach at Michigan (1981–1989) and Arizona State (1989–1997). Frieder's 1985–86 team was the last Michigan team to win a Big Ten Championship until the 2011–12 team.
The San Diego State Aztecs are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent San Diego State University. The Aztecs compete in NCAA Division I (FBS) as a member of the Mountain West Conference (MW). San Diego State University sponsors 17 teams at the varsity level.
Brady Patrick Hoke is a former American football coach. He was most well known for serving as the head football coach at the University of Michigan from 2011 to 2014. He also served as the head football coach at Ball State (2003–2008) and San Diego State
The Show is the student section of the San Diego State Aztecs teams that represent San Diego State University. Known for its vocal and creative support of the Aztecs, particularly the men's basketball team, The Show has garnered national recognition. The basketball student section consists of three designated sections in Viejas Arena, which are located behind the basket near the visiting team's bench. The Show is credited with being the first student section to ever use Big Heads as free throw distractions. The Show's mantra is "No one likes us. We don't care."
Alvin Joseph Brooks Jr. is a basketball coach and head coach of the Lamar University's men's basketball team. Brooks returned to Lamar as men's basketball head coach on April 1, 2021. Prior to Lamar, he most recently served as an assistant coach for the Houston Cougars. Brooks has also served as Director of Basketball Operations for the Kentucky Wildcats. He coached the Houston Cougars from 1993 to 1998. He also served as an assistant coach for the Texas Tech Red Raiders basketball team and was at Texas A&M through the '06–'07 season.
The University of Michigan basketball scandal, or the Ed Martin scandal, concerned National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) rules violations resulting from the relationship between the University of Michigan, its men's basketball program, and booster Eddie L. "Ed" Martin. The violations principally involved payments booster Martin made to several players to launder money from an illegal gambling operation. It is one of the largest incidents involving payments to athletes in American collegiate history. An initial investigation by the school was joined by the NCAA, Big Ten Conference, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). As a result of this investigation, Michigan's basketball program was punished with sanctions.
The Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing the University of Michigan. The school competes in the Big Ten Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Wolverines play their home games at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan has won one NCAA Championship as well as two National Invitation Tournaments (NIT), 15 Big Ten Conference titles and two Big Ten tournament titles. In addition, it has won an NIT title and a Big Ten tournament that were vacated due to NCAA sanctions.
The San Diego Toreros men's basketball team is the men's college basketball program that represents the University of San Diego. The Toreros compete in NCAA Division I as a member of the West Coast Conference (WCC). The team plays their home games at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.
The San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball team is the men's college basketball program that represents San Diego State University. The Aztecs compete in NCAA Division I as a member of the Mountain West Conference (MW). The team plays their home games at Viejas Arena.
The 2009–10 San Diego State men's basketball team represented San Diego State University in the 2009–10 college basketball season. This was head coach Steve Fisher's eleventh season at San Diego State. The Aztecs competed in the Mountain West Conference and played their home games at the Viejas Arena. They finished the season 25–9, 11–5 in MWC play. They won the 2010 Mountain West Conference men's basketball tournament to earn the conference's automatic bid to the 2010 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. They earned an 11 seed in the Midwest Region and were defeated by 6 seed and AP #15 Tennessee in the first round.
The 2011–12 San Diego State men's basketball team represented San Diego State University in the 2011–12 college basketball season. It was their 13th season in the Mountain West Conference. This was head coach Steve Fisher's thirteenth season at San Diego State. The Aztecs played their home games at Viejas Arena. They finished with a record of 26–8 overall and 10–4 in Mountain West play to be co-champions of the Mountain West with New Mexico. They lost in the championship game of the Mountain West Basketball tournament to New Mexico. They received an at-large bid into the 2012 NCAA tournament, earning the 6 seed in the Midwest which they lost to North Carolina State in the second round.
The 2014–15 San Diego State men's basketball team represented San Diego State University during the 2014–15 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. This was head coach Steve Fisher's sixteenth season at San Diego State. The Aztecs played their home games at Viejas Arena. They were members in the Mountain West Conference. They finished the season 27–9, 14–4 in Mountain West play to finish in a tie for the Mountain West regular season championship. They advanced to the championship game of the Mountain West tournament where they lost to Wyoming. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament where they defeated St. John's in the second round before losing in the third round to Duke.
The 2016–17 San Diego State men's basketball team represented San Diego State University during the 2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. This was head coach Steve Fisher's 18th season at San Diego State. The Aztecs played their home games at Viejas Arena as members in the Mountain West Conference. They finished the season 19–14, 9–9 in Mountain West play to finish in a tie for fifth place. They defeated UNLV and Boise State to advance to the semifinals of the Mountain West tournament where they lost to Colorado State. They Aztecs did not participate in a postseason tournament for the first time since the 2004–05 season.
Brian James Dutcher is an American college basketball coach and is the head coach for the San Diego State Aztecs men's team of the Mountain West Conference. He was an assistant under head coach Steve Fisher with the Michigan Wolverines and San Diego State, succeeding Fisher as Aztecs' head coach upon his retirement in 2017.
The 2017–18 San Diego State men's basketball team represented San Diego State University during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Aztecs, led by first-year head coach Brian Dutcher, played their home games at Viejas Arena as members in the Mountain West Conference. They finished the season 22–11, 11–7 in Mountain West play to finish in a tie for fourth place. They defeated Fresno State, Nevada, and New Mexico to become champions of the Mountain West tournament. As a result, they received the Mountain West's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. As the No. 11 seed in the West region, they lost to Houston in the first round.
The 2019–20 San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball team represented San Diego State University during the 2019–20 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Aztecs, led by third-year head coach Brian Dutcher, played their home games at Viejas Arena as members in the Mountain West Conference. They finished the season 30–2, 17–1 in Mountain West play to be regular season Mountain West champions. They defeated Air Force and Boise State to reach the championship game of the Mountain West tournament where they lost to Utah State. Although they were a virtual lock to receive an at-large bid to and a high seed in the NCAA tournament, on March 12 the NCAA Tournament was cancelled amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
References
↑ "Jarrett - Fisher". The Jackson Sun. June 19, 2011. Archived from the original on March 28, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2014. This is a wedding announcement for Mark Fisher, son of Steve Fisher. "The future groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Louis Fisher."
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