Brian Dutcher

Brian Dutcher
Dutcher posing for a picture in April 2023.
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamSan Diego State
ConferenceMW
Record185–61 (.752)
Biographical details
Born (1959-10-30) October 30, 1959 (age 65)
Alpena, Michigan, U.S.
Alma materMinnesota ('82)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1983–1985Illinois (GA)
1986–1988South Dakota State (assistant)
1989–1998Michigan (associate HC)
1999–2017San Diego State (associate HC)
2017–presentSan Diego State
Head coaching record
Overall185–61 (.752)
Tournaments7–5 (NCAA Division I)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Awards
  • 2× MWC Coach of the Year (2020, 2021)

Brian James Dutcher (born October 30, 1959) is an American college basketball coach who is the head coach of the San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball team at San Diego State University (SDSU).[1] He was an assistant under head coach Steve Fisher with the Michigan Wolverines and San Diego State, succeeding Fisher as the Aztecs' head coach upon his retirement in 2017.

Coaching career

Dutcher has more than 30 years of coaching experience, including 18 seasons as an assistant to Steve Fisher at San Diego State preceded by nine at the University of Michigan. He joined then-interim coach Fisher in 1989 when Michigan won the national championship. Dutcher is credited for having a central role in recruiting the Fab Five to Michigan and for bringing Kawhi Leonard to San Diego State.[2] He was named San Diego State's "head coach in waiting" in 2011.[3] Following Fisher's decision to retire, Dutcher was formally named as his replacement on April 11, 2017.

Thanks to Dutcher bringing in transfers Malachi Flynn, Yanni Wetzell, K.J. Feagin, and Trey Pulliam, along with the development of returnees Matt Mitchell, Jordan Shackel, Nathan Mensah, and Adam Seiko, the Aztecs started the 2019–20 season 26-0, with impressive road/neutral site wins over BYU, Creighton, Iowa, and Utah State - the preseason Mountain West favorite. This resulted in a #4 ranking for five straight weeks for San Diego State while Dutcher was named to the Naismith Coach of the Year Late-Season Watch List. Dutcher was named Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year on March 3, 2020.[4]

Personal life

Dutcher and his wife, Jan, have two daughters: Erin and Liza. He is the son of Jim Dutcher, a former head coach at Eastern Michigan and Minnesota.[3]

Head coaching record

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
San Diego State Aztecs (Mountain West Conference) (2017–present)
2017–18 San Diego State 22–11 11–7 T–4th NCAA Division I Round of 64
2018–19 San Diego State 21–13 11–7 T–4th
2019–20 San Diego State 30–2 17–1 1st NCAA Tournament Canceled*
2020–21 San Diego State 23–5 14–3 1st NCAA Division I Round of 64
2021–22 San Diego State 23–9 13–4 3rd NCAA Division I Round of 64
2022–23 San Diego State 32–7 15–3 1st NCAA Division I Runner-up
2023–24 San Diego State 26–11 11–7 5th NCAA Division I Sweet 16
2024–25 San Diego State 8–3 1–1
San Diego State: 185–61 (.752) 92–31 (.748)
Total: 185–61 (.752)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

*The 2020 NCAA tournament was canceled due to concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.

References

  1. ^ Phillips, Scott (April 10, 2017). "Report: San Diego State head coach Steve Fisher retires, replaced by assistant Brian Dutcher". NBC Sports. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
  2. ^ "San Diego State's Steve Fisher retires, replaced by Brian Dutcher". United Press International. April 10, 2017. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  3. ^ a b Zeigler, Mark (August 29, 2011). "Dutcher's dream job was here all along". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
  4. ^ "Mountain West Announces 2019-20 Men's Basketball All-Conference Team" (Press release). Mountain West Conference. March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2020.