All good things must come to an end.
According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, San Diego State head coach Steve Fisher announced his retirement Monday morning after 18 seasons with the Aztecs.
Fisher’s decision to retire comes after a disheartening 2016-17 season where the Aztecs recorded a 19-14 record, while also snapping an 11-year postseason run.
After signing a contract extension in 2014 for three more years, Fisher still technically had one season left with the Aztecs. However, due to the announcement of his retirement, Brian Dutcher will be taking over as head coach.
Dutcher has been a part of Fisher’s staff since 1989 where he was brought in as an associate head coach at the University of Michigan. Dutcher followed Fisher’s move to San Diego and has held the title as “head coach in waiting” since 2011.
When taking over the program in 1990, Fisher knew he had a lot of work cut out for him trying to revamp a team that went 4-22 just the season before.
In his first campaign with the Aztecs, Fisher led them to a mere overall record of 5-23 and 0-14 in conference play. After one year under his belt, the program improved dramatically with a split overall record of 14-14.
Eighteen seasons later with the Aztecs, Fisher has led two 30-win seasons, eight NCAA playoff berths, two Sweet 16 showings, six Mountain West regular season championships, four Mountain West Tournament championships, has climbed as high as No. 6 in the AP Top 25 during his 2010-11 and 2013-14 seasons, and now has a court named after himself.
At the start of his career, Fisher was known to walk around campus handing out tickets to try to boost game attendance. After years in the making, San Diego State’s student section grew into ‘The Show’ and eventually became a nationally recognized student section.
Just this past season, San Diego State ranked first among California schools in Division I average home attendance for the seventh year in a row. On a national perspective, the Aztecs were ranked 25, which is a new school record compared to it’s No. 29 ranking last season.
Steve Fisher has left a huge impact on the San Diego State campus, as well as on the students, and will forever be considered the G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time).
Once an Aztec, forever an Aztec. We’ll miss you Steve.
