With former Penn State Basketball head coach Micah Shrewsberry off to Notre Dame, Penn State athletic director Patrick Kraft has begun the search for a new head coach that will be “a tremendous coach, teacher and person, who will take [Penn State] to unprecedented heights.”
While there are a number of potential hires that have been suggested to be Micah Shrewsberry’s replacement, Penn State Basketball has its best option is already under contract with Penn State.
Pat Kraft should promote associate head coach Adam Fisher to head coach of the Penn State men’s basketball team as soon as possible to keep him in Happy Valley before he gets an offer to coach somewhere else.
Why Adam Fisher is Bet Fit as Penn State Basketball Head Coach
Adam Fisher spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons in Happy Valley as an associate head coach under Micah Shrewsberry, his third stint in Happy Valley.
Before returning to Penn State Basketball, Fisher spent six seasons at the University of Miami as an assistant coach. Fisher also has previously worked at Villanova and Boston University. In his two previous stints in Happy Valley, Fisher spent the 2012 season as Penn State men’s basketball’s director of player development and spent four seasons during his undergraduate education as head student manager and graduate manager. While Fisher does not have head coach experience, his resume is impressive and he would be a great hire for the head coach position.
Here are three reasons why Adam Fisher should be promoted as soon as possible.
1. Continuity of roster and recruiting
One of the biggest “what ifs” of Micah Shrewsberry leaving Penn State Basketball after just two seasons, is the question of what will happen to the players on the roster and the current Penn State recruits.
One thing is for certain, there is a substantial push by players on the 2022-2023 roster for Adam Fisher to be promoted to head coach. Jalen Pickett, Myles Dread, Cam Wynter, and Andrew Funk have all publicly endorsed Adam Fisher for the position.
Fisher played a large role in recruiting and coaching for Penn State over the past two seasons with Micah Shrewsberry and would could give the roster and recruiting continuity. While Shrewsberry is expected to make a push for players with remaining eligibility to transfer to Notre Dame to join Shrewsberry, hiring Fisher would give any potential transfers a reason to stay and continue to build the program at Penn State.
Don’t overthink it, Adam Fisher is the man for the job @PennStateMBB
— Andrew Funk (@andrewfunk11) March 22, 2023
HIRE COACH FISH. LET’S KEEP IT GOING @PennStateMBB @PSUHoopsClub
— Myles Dread (@mylesd12_) March 22, 2023
HIRE COACH FISH KEEP THE SUCCESS GOING !!!!!
— Jay Pick (@JalenPickett7) March 22, 2023
On the recruiting front, Penn State recruits are likely to reconsider their commitment to Penn State with Shrewsberry’s departure. However, Fisher played a large role in many of these recruitments and could possibly convince players to keep their commitment and play for Penn State. According to Joe Smeltzer from Nittany Sports Now, Penn State commit Logan Imes will “take some time to think about [his] decision”, but called Adam Fisher a “great basketball mind” and hoped Penn State would consider him for the head coaching position. In the transfer portal era, it is hard to keep a roster together once a coach leaves a program, but Adam Fisher will give Penn State the best opportunity to keep at least part of the roster together and keep continuity in recruiting.
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2. Homecoming and longevity
Also asked Imes about Adam Fisher, who multiple players endorsed via Twitter. Imes called Fisher a “great basketball mind” and hopes Penn State looks at him for the job.
— Joe Smeltzer (@joesmeltzer775) March 22, 2023
Fisher played a big role in recruiting Imes to Penn State. https://t.co/MPqRMZdLIW
One potential problem for Penn State Basketball moving forward with a new head coach will be the longevity of the new coach’s tenure.
Penn State has now seen firsthand that Micah Shrewsberry saw Penn State as a steppingstone. A chance to come in, have some success, and then find the next job.
With this in mind, Pat Kraft would be smart to ensure that the next head basketball coach at Penn State has ties either to Penn State or, at the very least, Pennsylvania. Adam Fisher checks this box and then some. Not only is Fisher a Penn State alum, but Fisher has also returned twice now to coach for and be a part of the Penn State basketball program. With his background of eight years in Happy Valley either as a student or an employee, he knows exactly what he would be walking into as head basketball coach for Penn State. If Penn State can work out NIL opportunities and invest in the program, Fisher would seem like a long -hire for the program. Fisher would be the best bet to stick around Happy Valley, build a program that can sustain success long-term, and will not be looking for a new job within 2 years.
3. Fisher is a coach on the rise
Fisher is a coach on the rise that Penn State Basketball can get early in his career and build a successful program with.
According to his profile on Penn State’s athletic website, Fisher was a “part of a Miami coaching staff that was one of only two ACC programs (Duke) to produce NBA Draft picks in consecutive years in 2017, 2018 and 2019”, including first round draft pick Lonnie Walker IV. Fisher has been a part of NCAA Sweet 16 appearances both at Miami in 2015-2016 and Villanova in 2008 and a Final Four appearance with Villanova in 2008. Although Fisher does not have head coaching experience, his experience as an assistant coach is very impressive and Penn State could benefit from getting Fisher on the rise in the coaching field.
Pat Kraft has the next Penn State Men’s Basketball Head Coach under contract. Now, Kraft needs to promote Fisher before another program steals away Penn State’s best candidate to replace Micah Shrewsberry.
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Education: Saint Vincent College, Penn State Law School
Location: Washington, DC
Experience:Robert Casturo has covered Penn State football for NittanyCentral since 2022. Casturo previously covered Penn State football through a social media presence (@PSU_FB_Thoughts on X) since 2019. Casturo earned his bachelor's degree from Saint Vincent College in 2015, where he was a punter for 1 season on the Saint Vincent College football team and worked in the athletic department for 2 years as a student manager. Casturo earned his JD from Penn State Law in 2018 where he was a senior editor of the Penn State Law Review.
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