Sign Up | Lost Password

Steve Fisher Named 2011 Naismith Coach of the Year

April 4, 2011

Fisher led Aztecs to 34-3 Record, First Sweet 16 in School History

ATLANTA - San Diego State men's basketball head coach Steve Fisher has been named the 2011 Naismith Men's College Basketball Coach of the Year, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced today. Fisher edged out finalists Mike Brey (Notre Dame), Dave Rose (BYU) and Thad Matta (Ohio State) to win the most prestigious national award presented annually to the top men's college basketball coach.
 
Fisher was selected by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's National Voting Academy, comprised of leading basketball journalists, coaches and administrators from around the country. The academy based its criteria on coaching performances this season. The vote was tabulated and certified by the accounting firm of Habif, Arogeti & Wynne, LLP. HA&W is the largest independent accounting firm in Georgia and one of the top 50 firms in the United States.
 
 
"The Aztecs' amazing regular season and conference tournament run illustrated what a remarkable coaching job Steve Fisher did," said Eric Oberman, executive director of the Atlanta Tipoff Club. "We congratulate him on his success and wish him luck in future seasons."
Fisher, who was the recipient of the Adolph Rupp Cup and named USBWA District IX coach of the year and Mountain West Conference co-coach of the year, guided SDSU to its best season in program history. The Aztecs won a school-record 34 games, including two in the NCAA Tournament, en route to a 34-3 record and a spot in the Sweet 16. San Diego State's two NCAA wins were the first two in the 41-year Division I history of the program.
 
SDSU entered the campaign having never been ranked in either of the two major college basketball polls, but debuted at No. 25 in the Associated Press Preseason Top 25 and remained in the poll for the rest of the season. The Aztecs were ranked in the top 10 in both polls for the final 13 weeks of the season and enjoyed a program-best ranking of No. 4.
 
In his 12th year at the helm of the Aztecs, Fisher led San Diego State to a share of the MWC regular-season title before claiming the Mountain West tournament crown, which led the Aztecs to their second consecutive NCAA Tournament berth and their sixth straight postseason appearance.
Fisher has guided the Aztecs to six consecutive 20-win seasons and six straight postseason appearances. Additionally, SDSU has won 25 or more games in each of the last three seasons.
 
"I am honored to receive one of the highest awards that can be bestowed upon a coach" Fisher said. "When you look at the history, tradition and previous winners you realize that this is a special award. As I have said all along, this is a team sports and I am grateful to our student-athletes and assistant coaches which have placed our team in a position to receive national recognition. I am truly humbled."
 
For more information, visit www.naismithawards.com.
 
ABOUT THE ATLANTA TIPOFF CLUB
The Atlanta Tipoff Club, an Atlanta Sports Council property, is committed to promoting the game of basketball and recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of those who make the game so exciting. The Atlanta Tipoff Club, founded during the 1956-57 season, has presented the Naismith Trophy every year since UCLA's Lew Alcindor first won the award in 1969. Old Dominion's Anne Donovan won the inaugural Women's Naismith Trophy in 1983.
 
The Naismith Award has become the most prestigious award in all of college basketball, recognizing the Men's and Women's College Basketball Player of the Year, Men's and Women's College Basketball Coach of the Year, as well as awards for outstanding achievement in high school basketball, officiating, and contribution to the game.


Article Courtesy The MWC