Fansided

San Diego State head coach Steve Fisher retires

By Tyler Donaldson

Feb 22, 2017; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego State Aztecs head coach Steve Fisher reacts during the second half against the Fresno State Bulldogs at Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 22, 2017; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego State Aztecs head coach Steve Fisher reacts during the second half against the Fresno State Bulldogs at Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /
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On Monday the head coach of the San Diego State Aztecs basketball team retired.

Steve Fisher, the former 1989 national champion coach at the University of Michigan and icon as head coach at San Diego State University has called decided to step away from the game after 18 years with the Aztecs.


Fisher also collected several accolades as head coach of the Aztecs, including four Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year awards, Naismith College Coach of the Year in 2011 and NABC Coach of the Year in 2011.

An illustrious career indeed, as Fisher coached for Michigan from 1989 – 1997 where he went to three Final Fours, including being at the helm of the infamous Fab Five in 1992. After winning the sole national championship for the Wolverines in 1989 and coaching one of the most famous, culture-changing college sports teams in American history, Fisher tried his luck as an assistant coach in the NBA with the Sacramento Kings. But he would begin cementing his legacy when he took over the Aztecs in 1999.

After a rough 5-23 start in his first season, Fisher went on to make the Aztecs a household name not only in college basketball, but in March, where he won six Mountain West regular season conference championships and four Mountain West conference tournament championships. Fisher brought the Aztecs to nine NCAA Tournament appearances, two of which ended in the Sweet 16.

The 2011 season, Fisher led his San Diego State squad to a 34-3 record, with a roster that included budding sophomore star Kawhi Leonard, who went on to be Fisher’s best NBA prospect along with names like Chris Webber and Jalen Rose.

As the head coach at San Diego State he finished 386-209, making him the winningest coach in Aztec basketball history. Fisher’s coaching career at San Diego State was so prominent in 2015, the Aztecs decided to rename the court in Viejas Arena “Steve Fisher Court”.

Fisher seemed to be up in the air on whether he wanted to continue coaching into his golden years. At the age of 72 Fisher was at a point where he was contemplating retirement for the last few years after discussing the subject with his wife Angie.

The Aztecs will hire Brian Dutcher to take over, Fisher’s assistant at Michigan and for the entirety of his career at San Diego State. Dutcher will be announced on Tuesday along with the official announcement of Fisher’s departure. Along with the promotion of Dutcher, Fisher’s son Mark will also stay on staff as an assistant.