Steve Fisher says he’ll coach at San Diego State next year

SPOKANE, Wash. -- There is a chance that No. 4 San Diego State could lose Thursday night’s NCAA tournament opener against No. 13 New Mexico State at Spokane Arena.

There is no chance, however, the Aztecs are losing coach Steve Fisher.

“I plan on being back next year,” Fisher, who turns 69 next week, said before his team’s West regional game. “I got one more year left on a contract. And after that, we’ll just see what happens at the end of the following year.”

Fisher, who led Michigan to the 1989 NCAA title, has had a remarkable run since taking over at San Diego State in 1999.

He takes a 310-175 record at the school going into Thursday night’s game, and that includes going 19-37 his first two years.

The Aztecs (29-4) have won 20 or more games each of the last nine seasons and have made five straight NCAA tournament experiences.

“The experience and the opportunity we have had at San Diego State is unbelievable,” he said. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

If San Diego State wins two games at the Spokane pod, the Aztecs will advance to next week’s West Regional at the Honda Center.