sdsu fisher hired

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SoCalHoops College Hoops News

See, We Told You It Could Happen:
Steve Fisher Named Head Coach At SDSU--(March 27, 1999)

We really didn't think the Michigan connection between former Wolverines coach Steve Fisher and San Diego AD Rick Bay went that far, but it looks like they were a lot closer than many thought. Fisher was introduced to the media on Friday afternoon at the Aztec's new Cox Arena as the 6th head coach of the Aztecs basketball team, replacing Fred Trenkle, who resigned a few weeks ago. Fisher, who is currently an assistant coach with the Sacramento Kings, was given a six-year deal by SDSU, with a one-year rollover due after the first season. He'll make a little more than $300,000 in base pay, and given that we're talking about San Diego, it's pretty doubtful there will be any shoe contracts involved; there was no word if any radio or television.

Whether Fisher will be able to work the same magic of taking the Aztecs to a final four, or recruit another "Fab Five" is something only time will tell. Fisher told the assembled reporters "I am thrilled to be the new basketball coach, ready to get started, knowing there will be a tremendous amount of work that needs to be done. I'm not naive to the fact that I think I can close my eyes and wave my wand and we're going to go from 4-22 to 22-4. But, nobody thought Ohio State would go from last (in the Big 10) to the Final Four, either." Fisher can't possibly do worse than SDSU's last coach. The Aztecs have had just one winning season since their last NCAA tournament appearance, in 1985.

Rick Majerus rejected the Aztecs' offer Monday night. Bay said that while Majerus is a good guy, he's also eccentric and would be more of a challenge than Fisher would be. "Steve, on the other hand, has even better credentials, really, than Rick, in some ways," Bay told the LA Times and San Diego Union-Tribune. "I don't feel I was trading off competence for comfort. So I feel very good about the way this thing came together."

Fisher's career at Michigan began and ended abruptly. He was promoted on an interim basis on the eve of the 1989 NCAA tournament after Bill Frieder accepted a job at Arizona State. He coached the Wolverines to an overtime victory against Seton Hall to win the national championship, then had the "interim" label removed three weeks later. He made it back to the title game in 1992 and '93, losing both times. He was fired by Michigan on Oct. 10, 1997, shortly after a Kansas law firm hired by the university issued a report that called into question his role in arranging complimentary tickets for a
booster. The NCAA accepted the school's self-imposed penalties. Fisher will continue to coach with the Kings their next three games, then will move to San Diego next week.