Kornacki: Fisher Returning to Where Magical Run Launched His Career
2/20/2019 9:56:00 AM | Men's Basketball, Features
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The comforting voice on the phone hadn't changed a bit in 30 years. Steve Fisher always has had a way of putting people at ease, making them smile and earning respect and trust.
During the 1988-89 University of Michigan men's basketball season, which ended with a national championship and Fisher as the program's surprise new coach, we would speak often for the stories I wrote then for the Detroit Free Press.
And now, over a phone connection between his home near San Diego and the state where he first made his name as a coach, we spoke at length about that magical run that will be recalled Sunday (Feb. 24) with a 30th anniversary celebration at Crisler Center when the Wolverines take on Michigan State.
Fisher had been one of head coach Bill Frieder's assistants that season, and when Frieder took the Arizona State job, Wolverine football coach and director of athletics Bo Schembechler famously named Fisher the interim because, in his words, "a Michigan man is going to coach Michigan."
And by the time the Wolverines had knocked off North Carolina in a Sweet 16 game in Lexington, Kentucky, Fisher told his wife, Angie, "We're going to get this job" when the tournament run concluded. The Tar Heels had eliminated Michigan in both the 1987 and 1988 NCAA tourneys, and Fisher had gotten the Wolverines past that nemesis and hurdle. But no matter what, Fisher knew he was going to be somebody's head coach for sure because Illinois State, his alma mater, offered him their job in Lexington.
Fisher with Demetrius Calip during Michigan's 102-65 thrashing of Virginia that secured the 1989 NCAA Southeast Regional title.
Then the Wolverines demolished Virginia to reach the Final Four in Seattle, where a last-second shot by Sean Higgins vanquished an Illinois team that had dominated them twice in the regular season. Seton Hall was all that remained in the way, and Michigan beat the Pirates, 80-79 in overtime, on two free throws by Rumeal Robinson with three seconds remaining.
Glen Rice scored more points than anyone ever had in an NCAA Tournament, averaging 30.7 points over six games, and the Wolverines were the toast of the college basketball world.
Fisher became a national story and indeed got the full-time gig.
"When the team wins," said Fisher, "everyone rises. When the team won in this instance, we all benefited, and no one benefited more than I did. I became the head coach at Michigan."
Fisher would recruit the "Fab Five" and get Michigan to back-to-back Final Fours in 1991 and 1992, losing the championship game both times. But then a booster payment scandal involving NCAA sanctions hit, and Fisher was fired. He was never implicated in anything and was blamed by the NCAA only for allowing that booster access to his players.
Fisher spent one season as an assistant coach to Rick Adelman with the NBA's Sacramento Kings, where he was reunited with Wolverine star Chris Webber, and he was hired as the head coach at San Diego State for 1999-2000. He stayed 18 seasons, finished 386-209, went to eight NCAA tournaments (the Aztecs had three prior berths), reached the Sweet 16 twice, and won 11 Mountain West regular-season or tournament championships.
"I don't wear it outwardly," said Fisher, "but I felt I was good at what I did and successful. I got into this coaching business not ever dreaming of fame and fortune. But I got to do something that didn't feel like work, was a high school coach for 11 years, and loved it.
"But if you have the longevity -- and I had the privilege of that -- then you are going to have a lot of wins or you're not going to be in the business very long. But when you say that (number of games won), that makes me proud because you do what you do for the people, the relationships, and what you feel like together when you accomplish things on the basketball court and in their lives."
He's been retired for two seasons, and long-time assistant Brian Dutcher, whose father, Jim, was the head coach at Eastern Michigan and Minnesota, replaced Fisher at San Diego State.
"This is all about relationships," said Fisher. "The Dutchers and the Fishers are dear friends, not only on the court but off the court. We do a lot together socially. We started together on the same staff with Bill Frieder in 1988, and we've been together every year since with the exception of one year off.
"I'm proud of the fact that he's now the head coach, and he's done a remarkably good job. To have the long-time relationship we had doesn't happen very often in coaching. It's been a great, great thing for both families."
Fisher retired from coaching after a successful 18-year run at San Diego State.
Fisher, 73, works part-time for San Diego State, doing fundraising and other things, and enjoys time with family. Steve and his wife, Angie, moved into "the first new home" they've ever owned two years ago in Rancho Santa Fe, California.
Frieder and Fisher lived "five minutes apart" in Del Mar, California, until the Fishers moved 30-45 minutes away two years ago. The two men always will be linked because of the way things shook out when Frieder opted for the Sun Devils.
"I remember Bill calling me over after practice to tell me he had just accepted the job," said Fisher. "Bill said, 'I'm going to take the red-eye out to Phoenix and meet you in Atlanta (for the NCAA opener). Take the team.'
"I was literally dumbfounded because I thought (Purdue coach Gene) Keady was going to take the (ASU) job. It was news to me when he told me that; I was shocked."
Terry Mills and Sean Higgins, two focal players on that Wolverine team, praised Fisher for the distinct roles he gave them going into the tournament. Higgins even embraced Fisher's decision to have him come in off the bench to supply offensive spark.
"Communication and relationships are the best ways to get through rough patches," said Fisher. "You have to be open and direct with how you feel. I was that way as Bill's assistant, and it helped me a lot that Bill gave me so much responsibility.
"Now, I was front and center, but I just tried to bring some calmness to the crazy environment and let them know you can only control what you can control. 'If we do it together and fight together and believe' -- that was the theme I preached. 'Let's play for one another and believe we're very capable of winning that next game.' "
They won all six in that tournament, and Fisher joined select company.
"Very few coaches have had the privilege to be on the bench and win a national championship," said Fisher. "I'm part of that fraternity. We went there three times in my tenure, and winning takes a lot of good luck and good fortune. And you can have some bad luck happen. But on that team, we had some good things happen.
"That's the beauty, and also the beast, of one-and-done in the NCAA college basketball tournament. The truly best team doesn't always cut down the nets. But the best team for that six-game run cuts down the nets. That's what we were able to do."
Fisher, the last to climb the ladder to cut a piece of twine off the net at the Kingdome, kept the entire net. He still has it, too.
Thirty years later, Fisher still has this memento from Seattle.
Prominent in those celebration photos from 30 years ago are sons Mark and Jay. They all moved to San Diego two decades ago, and Jay, now 32, graduated from the USC film school and is currently in a screenwriting program at the University of Texas. Mark, 40, is married and has a son, Max, 5. Mark was an assistant coach for the Aztecs until being diagnosed with ALS several years ago; he remains an assistant to the head coach.
Steve and Angie, married for 44 years, got that new house two years ago to be closer to Mark and his family. "His vitals are good," said Steve. "He's a trouper. He's hanging in there."
So much has happened since the Fishers called Ann Arbor and Crisler Arena home, but their love of special times here remains something they cherish.
"I'm very much looking forward to it," said Fisher of the reunion. "I'm looking forward to seeing all the players who allowed it to happen for all of us -- some of whom I've talked to with regularity and some of whom I haven't talked to in a long time. So, I'm very much looking forward to seeing all the people."
He mentioned that Rob Pelinka, a freshman on the championship team and later a key reserve on two more Final Four teams, was coming. Fisher recently visited with Pelinka, now general manager of the Los Angeles Lakers, and took in a game at the Staples Center. Fisher noted that Lakers rookie Moritz Wagner from Michigan is developing well, adding how much he enjoys Wagner's spirit.
The Fishers and most of the rest of the team will be returning to Crisler Center, a renovated basketball palace and facility they will only partially recognize, for the celebration in large part because of Steve's long-time friendship with current Wolverine coach John Beilein, who pushed for it.
"This journey back for Angie and me was basically forged from my relationship with John Beilein," said Fisher. "I've got great regard and respect for him. His accomplishments as a coach are well acclaimed, but he's such a wonderful, genuine guy. Between guys like John and then Mark Hughes (co-captain with Rice of the championship team), we will be part of the event and are looking forward to it."
Beilein said of the past: "We're going to let that go, and I'm going to say a lot of great things about Steve Fisher, who is an outstanding coach and person, a friend."
The banner for that 1989 team hangs in the rafters at one end of Crisler, and Rice's retired No. 41 among the other jerseys of Wolverine greats is at the opposite end. Thirty years have passed since Fisher helped make it all happen, and seeing him wave and smile to acknowledge the ovation that's sure to come is going to bring back some great memories, as surely as Fisher himself has come back home.
More on the 1989 National Champs
Friday (Feb. 22): Despite having four future first-round NBA draft picks in Terry Mills, Glen Rice, Rumeal Robinson and Loy Vaught, this team had several reasons why it was an unlikely NCAA champion. Coach Steve Fisher, guard Sean Higgins (a future second-round NBA selection), Mills and Rice reflect on what has changed over the past 30 years, and what hasn't. » Story
Monday (Feb. 18): MGoBlue.com's Steve Kornacki, the Detroit Free Press Wolverines beat writer in 1988-89, recalls breaking the story on Bill Frieder leaving for Arizona State, his unique insights into new coach Steve Fisher, the closest Final Four games ever, and the team's trip to the White House for a lively time with President George H.W. Bush. » Story
