Steve Fisher Receives Highest Coaching Honor
In addition to the 2011 Naismith Award, Fisher also received the NABC National Coach of the Year and Adolph Rupp Cup awards.
San Diego State men's basketball head coach Steve Fisher was named the 2011 Naismith Men's College Basketball Coach of the Year, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced Monday.
Fisher edged out finalists Mike Brey (University of Notre Dame), Dave Rose (Brigham Young University) and Thad Matta (Ohio State University) to win the most prestigious national award presented annually to the top men's college basketball coach.
"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 sport 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."
About the Naismith Award
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."
Other awards and achievements
In addition to the Naismith Award, Fisher received the National Association of Basketball Coaches Dividion I National Coach of the Year Award and the Adolph Rupp Cup, and was named USBWA District IX coach of the year and Mountain West Conference co-coach of the year during the Aztecs' 2010-11 campaign.
He also 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. In fact, 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.
Earlier this month, 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's legacy
Fisher, who recently completed his 12th season at San Diego State, has guided the Aztecs to six consecutive 20-win seasons and six straight postseason appearances. The Aztecs have won 25 or more games in each of the last three seasons.
Fisher also earned national coach of the year honors by Basketball Times following the 1991-92 season.
