Mark Fisher, SDSU Assistant Coach battling ALS
My best friend, a chair user himself with Spina Bifida, made an astute observation during the FAU-SDSU game yesterday. He said there was a power chair in the SDSU assistant coaches area. I too thought I’d seen it.
I looked it up and for those who may not know the story, assistant coach, Mark Fisher has been battling the ravaging effects of ALS since 2011. He is coach Fisher’s son and has been his dad’s and now Dutcher’s assistant coach . It takes an extraordinary effort for him to make the trip to Houston for the final 4 as detailed in this story. It’s a true story of determination to see him keep coaching and help the team make this run.
I’ve been pulling for SDSU because Dutcher has toiled so long to get to this point but now I’d really like to see Mark Fisher get the Natty.
I heard about this during the regionals but thank you for linking the article. Most of us think of ALS as a cruel death sentence but for Mark Fisher it became a call to live life to its fullest - something we all can learn from.
Wow, somehow I never knew this. That he has lived with it for over a decade is incredible. Thanks for sharing, op. Just one more reason to root for the Aztecs tomorrow night!
My mom passed away from complications due to ALS. She is also a long time care, having lived with ALS for about 13 years, so every similar story really hits close to home.
Sending prayers and all the peace in the world as they deal with this. I'm sure they have a great support network to help them through the course of this terrible disease.
Terrible disease and it is inspirational that way some people choose to deal with these challenges. Go Aztecs!
They mentioned it on the broadcast yesterday. The camera was on Mark's dad Steve (whom we all know and love), and they talked about his assistant coach son battling ALS. An inspirational man to be sure.
Unrelated, but they also made a funny quip about Steve not being able to see because of a man standing in front of him, saying that man must be an MSU fan.
They talked about him during the game.
I lost a very good friend to this disease. A terrible way to go.
It's no use right now but I'll pray for him.
FWIW with the Michigan-Dutcher/Fisher connection I'm totally rooting for SDSU. I always felt like Steve Fisher got a bum rap with the Ed Martin stuff. (I don't know if he did or not, but I feel like it.)
I met mark a long time ago once. We were playing pick up ice hockey on the makeshift rink at burns park. This was 30 years ago. I was about 10 at the time and didn’t put 2 and 2 together until much later in life (He had the name Fisher written on a piece of tape on his helmet). Strange random memory, but damn playing “pond” hockey at burns park was fun and he was a really nice person.
I also noticed it yesterday during the game. I didn't realize he had ALS. What a remarkable young man to still coach and live his life to the fullest. True courage and inspiration.
Really an amazing family. Steve Fischer was a true leader and the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. 🙏🏽
He’s a Pioneer and Michigan grad
One of my main mentors in basketball reffing lived with ALS for almost 10 years until it finally took him. I could still fit in his reffing gear up until about 3 years ago. That disease is so hard on the family. But the positives are perseverance and bravery, and they affect everyone in the orbit. Long may you coach Mark!
Like we needed another reason to pull for SDSU tonight! I didn't know this story, so thanks for sharing. His dad got rail-roaded here (mostly by the NCAA, but also by the AD) and deserved better. So many schools and coaches have done, and continue to do, far worse than anything Steve may have had peripheral knowledge of.
HANG THE BANNERS!!!!
(This is for both UM and SDSU!)
And also, fuck diseases that have no cure. Just fuck them all.
I didn’t know he was dealing with this. Thoughts and prayers with him and the entire Fisher family.
Hoping the Aztecs play to their potential tonight - and, end this season with a win.
If you're an SDSU fan you've known about this for quite some time. Honestly I thought it was before 2011. He was an assistant for dad and far as I know was pretty popular with the players when he was diagnosed. It was a pretty tough blow at the time and seemed like a sure death sentence. Good to see his is still with us. Steve & Dutch built this program into being what I would say is 2nd only to Gonzaga in the west. For a couple decades now. You could argue Arizona maybe. Taken a while but they have earned this trip. UConn knocked them out when they had one of their best teams and seasons ever with Kawhi Leonard. 2011. Payback time.