10 - The Michigan Daily - Tipoff 3 - Thursday, November18, 1993
Tfie Michiig~r a in
Even-handed Fisher earns respect
Michigan coach is Mr. Consistency on and off the court
Basketball _ree B BrFr
By CHAD A. SAFRAN
Few things in life are guaranteed.
The style of an Armani suit is but
a certainty.
The greatness of a Martin Scorsese
film is almost assured.
And the consistency of Steve
Fisher's personality is never doubted.
While Fisher may not design
clothes or direct motion pictures, he
has produced quite a string of suc-
cesses in his four seasons at the helm
of the Michigan basketball program.
Since becoming head coach of the
Wolverines following the team's dra-
matic and spectacular run to the 1989
NCAA title, Fisher has put together
three 20-plus win campaigns and two
Final Four squads.
However, Fisher's behavior has
changed little since his boyhood days
in southern Illinois.
"When I watch the games on tele-
vision, I see the same Steve as I had as
a head coach," said Al Sandefer, the
principal of Rich East High School in
Park Forest, Ill., where Fisher was a
teacher and coach from 1971 to 1979.
That does not necessarily mean
Fisher is the same as he was upon
getting the full-time job for the 1990
season.
"He's more laid back this year,"
said Jason Bossard, Michigan's lone
senior. "He let's guys play. He doesn't
put a harness on anybody. He lets the
athletic ability do its thing, especially
the last two years."
Fisher attributes his coaching
achievements to that consistency.
"I'm probably more emotional than
I've been portrayed to be, but stability
is important," Fisher said. "There are
coaches that are moody and you never
know how from one day to the next
how they are going to react. I don't get
mad."
Some of Fisher's players would
have to disagree with that one. Junior
forward Ray Jackson has seen an oc-
casional Fisher blow-up in practice.
And while it is as rare as a John Candy
commercial for Weight Watchers, the
event is something to see.
"It'll happen at least three or four
times a year," says Jackson, breaking
into a smile. "I can think of a couple of
times when he just went off. It was
kind of funny when it happened. Here
he's getting upset and I'm laughing "
Fisher attributes his lack of emo-
tional peaks and valleys to his up-
bringing.
While growing up in southern Illi-
nois, Steven Louis Fisher learned
about sports from his father, Howard.
He coached Steve and his brothers
in little league baseball, as well as the
Catholic grade school team. He was
the one who taught -Steve the basket-
ball fundamentals.
Fisher's father passed away last
Decembefafter'checkinghimself out
of the hospital. Fisher's position as
coach allowed him time to check in on
his father, even managing to squeeze
an extra day out of a recruiting trip to
St. Louis to see him. Although he had
been in declining health for some time,
the death still had a profound impact
on Steve's life.
"Like most sons, when a parent
dies, you grieve and you remember all
the good things you had together,"
Fisher said. "You're not bitter, you
just think of all the good things and
you miss him."
The elder Fisher was not the only
one who contributed to Steve's even-
mannered coaching.
"I had a great junior high coach
(Mike Sortal) who was very low-key.
I don't know if I consciously said to
myself that I want to be like that, my
dad or him," Fisher said. "That's how
I was when I was a player."
Following his graduation from
Herrin High School in 1963, Fisher
moved on to Illinois State, where he
was a three-time letterwinner for the
Redbirds. He earned a B.S. in math
and physical education.
"He didn't have the greatest abil-
ity," said Jim Collie, Fisher's coach at
Illinois State. "He was hampered by a
knee injury in a softball accident. He
was a good shooter, but his mobility
was not there. His intelligence ex-
ceeded his basketball ability."
While pursuing his master's de-
gree in physical education, Fisher
worked as a graduate assistant within
the Illinois State physical education
department, applying his acumen not
only to the hardwood but to the hard
courts as well. Fisher spent time aid-
ing the tennis team in addition to per-
forming odd jobs around the phys. ed.
office.
Despite the fact he was not des-
tined to be the next Jimmy Connors,
Fisher coached the tennis team while
teaching math, physical education and
driver's education at Rich East, a place
where Fisher was not sure he belonged.
Having grown up in rural Illinois,
Fisher was a bit apprehensive about
coming to the Chicago area. He was
prepared to teach high school in
Belleville, Ill., before fate, better
known as Les Woethke, stepped into
Fisher's life.
Woethke was the manager at a
Bloomington, Ill., country club where
Fisher tended bar in addition to his
graduate studies. Rich East hired
Woethke as its basketball coach and
persuaded Fisher into going with him.
Woethke would make consistent im-
pacts throughout Fisher's life.
Woethke eventually departed Rich
East for Winona State in Minnesota,
leaving a vacancy at the head coach-
ing position. It was a spot Fisher
thought he deserved, but did not get.
The job went to Gene Smithson, who
later went on to coach at Illinois State
and Wichita State.
Needless to say, Fisher was not
pleased with the fact he did not get the
position.
Just two years out of college, Fisher
went into the athletic director's office
and "complained, bitched and got an-
gry," even slamming the door in frus-
tration. Surely Ray Jackson would
have been laughing at this untraditional
Fisher outburst.
"I said if I could find something I
was leaving," Fisher said. "I looked
and couldn't find anything that late (it
was June). So I came back and it was
over. I was still the assistant."
Nine months later, Smithson left
to assist Will Robinson with the Red-
birds and Fisher was hired as the bas-
ketball coach at Rich East, getting the
job denied him only months before.
Fisher greatly enjoyed his time in
suburban Chicago.
"I didn't feel like I was working
when I was a high school coach,"
Fisher said. "I could've started and
finished my career at Rich Eas( High
School and been every bit as happy as
I am now."
Fortunately for Michigan, he did
not. His family, though, probably
wished he had.
Les Woethke came calling again
in 1979 and Fisher answered.
"I would not have gone to Western
Michigan. if had not been for Les
Woethke as the head coach," Fisher
+sa i d : " " ". t ,
T - H - E
UNIVERSITY
PURDUE
NORTHWESTERN
Coach: Ricky Byrdsong, first
season (53-87 overall)
Last season: 8-19 overall, 3-15
Big Ten (tenth)
Key returnees: G Pat Baldwin
(12.6 ppg, 5.4 apg), F Cedric
Neloms (16.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg), C
Kevin Rankin (15.3 ppg, 8.4 rpg)
Big losses: F Charles Howell
(6.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg)
Fresh faces: C Evan Eschmeyer,
G Jevon Johnson.
Ricky Byrdsong left Detroit-
Mercy to take the reins of a club that
has four starters and 10 letterwinners
returning. It is a team with some hope,
despite winning only eight games a
year ago.
"I'm excited to have some guys
back who've
been through
some stuff,"
Byrdsong said.
"I want to use
' (Patrick)
Baldwin and
(Kevin)
Rankin's
leadership."
The Wildcats
Rankin will be strong
inside with junior forward Cedric
Neloms and senior center Kevin
Rankin - the top two scorers and
rebounders from 1992-92. This
tandem should anchor the team.
Evan Eschmeyer, a 6-foot-11
freshman, will provide backup at
center. Byrdsong has yet to decide
whether he will create a "twin
towers" effect with Eschmeyer and
Rankin. If he does, teams will have
difficulty inside the lane.
At the guard spots, senior
Baldwin will enter his fourth season
as the starter at the point. Senior
Eric Simpson and freshman Jevon
Johnson will come off the bench at
point.
Senior shooting guard Todd
Leslie was redshirted last year due
to a knee injury and should be one
of the country's top three-point
shooters.
He will have to regain his
shooting touch of two years ago for
the 'Cats to be competitive. Senior
Kip Kirkpatrick can play both guard
positions and small forward, and
will see time either as a starter or
reserve.
The Wildcats, for the first time
in years, appear headed in a positive
direction. An NIT bid is a
possibility, in Byrdoeog's first Big
Ten campaign.
OHIO STATE
Coach: Randy Ayers, fifth year
(85-36)
Last season: 15-13 overall, 8-10
Big Ten (seventh)
Key returnees: C Lawrence
Funderburke (16.3 ppg, 6.8 rpg), G
Derek Anderson (10.2 ppg, 2.7 apg),
G Jamie Skelton (14.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg),
G Greg Simpson (9.6 ppg, 2.6 apg)
Big losses: None
New faces: C Gerald Eaker
Last year, the Buckeyes had one
returning starter and the
inexperience showed. This year
Randy Ayers has four returning
starters and three players who
averaged over 10 points a game.
The key returnee is Lawrence
Funderburke, the team's leading
scorer and rebounder in '92-93. The
senior forward had 54 blocks and
started all 28 games. If
Funderburke can repeat his strong
showing of a year ago, the Buckeyes
will be in the Big Ten race.
Ohio State is deep and talented
in the backcourt, with Jamie
Skelton, Greg Simpson and Derek
Anderson.
Skelton was an honorable
mention on the All-Big Ten team
last season, made 55 three-pointers
and led the team with 79 assists.
Simpson, last year's Big Ten
Freshman of the Year, and
Anderson led the team in steals.
Rickey Dudley and Charles
Macon will fill out the front court.
"(Macon) is strictly an inside
player," Ayers said. "He has good
footwork."
The Buckeyes look to rebound
from last season's mediocrity,
reaching a productive amalgam of
experience and youth.
"I'm confident that we have a
very balanced team," Ayers said.
PENN STATE
Coach: Bruce Parkhill, 11th year
(147-144 at Penn State, 236-219
overall)
Last season: 7-20 overall, 2-16
Big Ten (eleventh)
Key returnees: C John Amaechi
(13.8 ppg,. 7.6 rpg), F Rashaan
Carlton (6.6 ppg, 1.5 rpg), G
Michael Jennings (7.8 ppg, 3.3 apg)
Big losses: F DeRon Hayes
(13.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg)
New faces: G Dan Earl, G/F T.J.
McNulty, F/C Phil Williams
John Amaechi took full
advantage of his school's first
season in the Big Ten. He scored
13.8 points per game, pulled down
7.6 boards and earned third-team
All-Big Ten status. The problem
was his team finished in last place.
"We're in for another
challenge," coach Bruce Parkhill
admitted. "We learned a lot from
last year. We're-working toward
being competitive."
Sophomore Rashaan Carlton
should inherit DeRon Hayes' small
forward spot, after being a finalist
for conference top rookie honors
last season. Matt Gaudio was
expected to start in place of Eric
Carr last year but a bad back forced
him to be redshirted. Although the
prognosis for Gaudio's return was
good, his back flared up just before
practice began.
Senior Michael Jennings will be
back at his natural off-guard spot,
joining Greg Bartram in the
backcourt. Highly-touted freshman
Dan Earl may be the best of the
three.
The Nitanny Lions were last in
the Big Ten in field goal percentage
and next to last in rebounds.
A repeat performance of that
kind will surely resultin another.°
finish in the conference cellar.
Coach: Gene Keady, 14t
season (268-130 at Purdue, 3
overall)
Last season: 18-10 overa
(fifth)
Key returnees: F Glenn
Robinson (24.1 ppg, 9.2 rpg)
Cuonzo Martin (11.9 ppg, 3.
G Matt Waddell (7.1 ppg, 2.1
Big losses: G Matt Painte
ppg, 4.5 apg)
New faces: C Matt ten D
Paul Gilvydis
The Boilermakers hopes
one man - Glenn Robinson
the team in scoring and rebo
a year ago. What Purdue nee
year is support for the junior
forward.
Coach Gene Keady will t
Cuonzo Martin, a junior forv
who was second on the team
scoring in 1992-93. Keady v
need more points from junic
Matt Waddell.
"Our three juniors are ou
leading scorers," Keady said
"Waddell, Martin and Robin
our most consistent scorers.
likes to share attention with
teammates. But that's not gc
happen."
That just might have to ti
if Purdue is to make some nc
The team returns eight playe
starting' experience and 121e
in all.
Count on Keady using m
different starting combinatic
the Boil
roster is
>r with ve
players
Seni
Stanbac
sophomt
Brando
Brantle
both ply
and for
Sophon
Robinson Herb D
Martin can play guard and f
Porter Roberts will likel:
with Waddell in the backcoi
Centers Kenny Williams an
Cornelius McNary will see
minutes, along with forward
Gilvydis .and guard Linc Da
The most intriguing mer
this season's Boilermaker to
foot-2, 305-pound freshmar
ten Dam.
The Holland native is th
player from abroad to play :
Purdue and will eat up spac
Simpson. .,
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