Steve Fisher has performed a miracle on Montezuma Mesa in resurrecting San Diego State's once moribund men's basketball program, but this just-ended season demonstrated that his work here is now done. It's time to move on.
I in no way advocate Fisher's firing, especially after an unprecedented third straight 20-win season and post-season appearance, because that would be a terrible injustice to a man who has given us so much. Where he needs to go is upstairs, and there's a chance that the athletic director job will come open. Current AD Jeff Schemmel, who is unpopular here despite doing a pretty good job, is one of the leaders for a similar job at Kansas State of the Big 12. Things have been strangely silent on the AD job in Manhattan, Kan. for several weeks now. They could just be giving Schemmel a courtesy couple of weeks because it would be uncouth for him to announce his departure as the Aztecs prepared for conference tournaments and the NIT for the men. Still, he's got K-State background, so he's a good fit. Couldn't blame him if he goes.
Fisher would be perfect to succeed him. He's a strong administrator, a quiet visionary and works well with his coaching colleagues. He understands San Diego State, the challenges faced by its team and the desperate desire by fans for a high-level team in any sport. His record also shows that he has high standards, which are desperately needed on the Mesa.
The season just ended was a disappointment overall. The Aztecs lost four games they should have won and closed the slate with an embarrassing NIT rout at the hands of Florida. I had no problem with a flu-ridden squad falling in the semifinals of the Mountain West Tournament to a decent BYU team. The Aztecs, however, looked just horrible against the Gators, who are nothing compared to their last two NCAA championship teams. The were in disarray on offense, ineffective on defense and a non-factor on the boards. SDSU right now is so far from being a good team that it's apparent that Fisher has taken the Aztecs as far as he can.
Other problems exist. Fisher has had to suspend or completely remove from the team far too many players. The losses of Kyle Spain and Jerome Habel ruined this season. I have no doubt those young men deserved their punishment, but Fisher is struggling to bring quality people to San Diego. No one on the current team can shoot worth a darn. The guard play has been inconsistent at best and downright horrible against good teams. He's had trouble recruiting big men, but as a mid-major team, that's no big surprise. Much worse, his staff of assistants has been a revolving door, maybe the biggest reason for the program's inconsistency.
Don't call me a pessimist. I'm not. The future is bright for SDSU men's basketball. The nucleus of this team is young, and some good recruits are coming next season in G Quinton Watkins and French JC transfer F Mehdi Cheriet. Plus, injured freshman F Tim Shelton will return. This 20-win team will get better. How much better is the question, and under Fisher, I now severely doubt it will get much better.
There've been some Aztec fans who've wanted Fisher booted for years now. I'm only begrudgingly edging toward their point of view. My response to those people has always been, if not Fisher, then who? What better coach is going to come to a school like ours with no hoops tradition? The answer was no one.
This time I come with a name. Randy Bennett of Saint Mary's, who led the Gaels to the NCAA Tournament this season as the nearly unprecedented second at-large bid from the West Coast Conference, behind WCC Tournament champion USD and perennial power Gonzaga. It's the Gaels second NCAA appearance in four years, from a program that won something like two games before Bennett took over. And he has San Diego connections from USD.
Bennett is a quality coach, a builder, a winner. He would make a sensible replacement.
Would I be angry if Fisher were to remain as coach? No. Though I see no reason why things next year will be any different than this season. Plus, Fisher might well see this as time to depart on his own. He has to be disappointed, as we all are, on how this season tailed-off after Spain was suspended. It's the second straight season in which the Aztecs faded down the stretch. He might have had enough. If so, he's been a wonderful coach and has laid a very solid foundation for whoever might follow.
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