Michigan Fires Fisher as Coach

Steve Fisher is out as Michigan basketball coach as abruptly as he came in.

Fisher was fired late Friday, less than a week before the Wolverines’ first practice. The move by new Athletic Director Tom Goss comes eight years after Fisher replaced Bill Frieder on the eve of the 1989 NCAA tournament, which the Wolverines won.

“I have decided that it is time to make a change in the head men’s basketball coach at the University of Michigan,” Goss said at a news conference after the football team’s 23-6 victory over Northwestern on Saturday.

The announcement came two days after a Kansas law firm hired by the university to investigate the Wolverine basketball program issued a report that questioned Fisher’s role in arranging complimentary tickets for booster Eddie Martin.

A man who answered the door at Fisher’s house Saturday said Fisher did not want to talk to the media.

Goss said a search for a replacement will begin immediately. Until a successor is named, assistant coach Brian Ellerbe will run the team under Goss’ supervision.

Fisher’s record at Michigan was 184-82.