Steve Fisher Named 2011 Naismith Men's Basketball College Coach of the Year
San Diego State Head Coach led Aztecs to 34-3 Record, 1st Sweet 16 in School History
ATLANTA (April 4, 2011) – 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.”
In his 12th season at San Diego State, Fisher led the Aztecs to a 34-3 record, including a 14-2 mark in the Mountain West Conference (MWC), where they were co-champs along with BYU. He also led the team to a MWC Tournament championship, and for his efforts was named the 2011 MWC Coach of the Year. He owns a 232-152 at the school, and a 416-234 overall coaching record, including the 1989 NCAA Championship while at Michigan.
Entering the NCAA Men’s Division I tournament as a No. 2 seed in the West region, the Aztecs won their first two games before falling 74-67 to No. 3 UConn in the school’s first ever Sweet 16 appearance.
“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.”
Last year, Syracuse University’s Jim Boeheim claimed the Naismith Men’s Coach of the Year award, the fourth in a decade for the Big East Conference.
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.
