Metro State's Fisher Steps Down to Accept Head Coaching Position at CSU

Courtesy of Andy Schlichting, MSCD sports information director

DENVER - Metro State head softball coach Jen Fisher resigned on Friday to accept the head coaching position at Colorado State University in Fort Collins.  She finished her three-year stint at Metro State as the school’s winningest coach, going 125-36 (.776).  She was named Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Coach of the Year twice and CaptainU NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year in 2010.  Fisher will become the 12th head coach for the Rams in their 34-year history, replacing Mary Yori, the winningest coach in CSU history with a record of 276-242 (.533) in 10 seasons.

“It’s tough to see such an incredible person leave our family at Metro State,” Athletic Director Joan McDermott said.  “She has done a tremendous job guiding these young women on and off the field and has developed them into leaders in our community.  We understand it’s a great opportunity to return home and wish her the best.  Jen has been a class act and I would like to thank her for her for everything she has done here.”

“I am honored to have called Metro State home,” Fisher said.  “It was my pleasure to work with some of the most wonderful coaches, administrators, and student-athletes in all of Division II and the NCAA.  I am confident that the program will be in excellent hands, and that the softball student-athletes will continue the strong tradition that has begun.  The past three years have been unbelievably enjoyable for me, and I will miss the people the most.  It’s very hard to leave such a great group of young ladies, yet I know they will do great in their future endeavors.”

“[Metro State President] Dr. [Stephen] Jordan has been a true visionary leader in advancing the platform of Division II athletics.  I have learned so much from him and I hope to be able to share his vision at the Division I level.”

“I also want to thank Joan McDermott for her remarkable foresight and leadership.  She was instrumental in bringing softball back to Metro State, and without her, many young ladies and coaches might be without a place to pursue their dreams.”

Fisher is a native of Fort Collins, graduating from Rocky Mountain High School, where she played softball, basketball and tennis and was named the school’s female athlete of the year in 1990.  She played college softball at Creighton University for one year, before finishing her final three years at Colorado School of Mines.  After her softball career, she transferred to CSU and earned her bachelor’s degree in 1997 in mathematics.

In addition to graduating from CSU, Fisher’s father, Wayne Schubert, has been a professor in the university’s world-renowned atmospheric sciences program since 1973.  Fisher’s husband, Joe, played baseball at CSU as well.

Fisher re-started Metro State’s softball program in 2008 after the program disbanded following the 1990 season.  In just three years, Fisher won two regular season RMAC titles, a pair of RMAC Tournament championships and took the team to two NCAA Tournament appearances.  Her 2010 team reached the NCAA Division II College Softball World Series.

In 2008, the first year of the softball program, Fisher led the team to a 32-18 record, including 26-11 in RMAC play, good for second place in conference.  Six players earned all-conference honors.

In 2009, Fisher guided the Roadrunners to the No. 2 seed in the NCAA Central Region Tournament after going 40-12 overall, including 29-7 in the RMAC.  Her team tied the NCAA Division II single season home run record, blasting 98 long balls.  In addition, Metro State led the nation in home runs per game and slugging percentage and finished fifth in batting average and runs scored per game.  Juniors Tara Mickelson and Kellie Nishikida became the first two softball players in Metro State history to earn All-America honors.  Mickelson was a Daktronics first team selection and Nishikida earned second team honors.  In addition to the two All-Americans, seven players earned all-conference honors.

In 2010, Fisher garnered the highest honor for a college coach, earning CaptainU National Coach of the Year honors.  Fisher guided the Roadrunners to their second straight NCAA Tournament appearance and second straight RMAC regular season and tournament championships.  Metro State finished the year with a 53-6 mark, including a conference record 37 wins with just two losses.  The Roadrunners also shattered the national home run record, totaling 112 to top the previous record of 98.  They also broke the RMAC records for ERA, runs scored (tied the previous record) and home runs in conference games.  Metro State also set a school record by winning 17 consecutive games from April 10 to May 6.

Fisher’s team was led again by Mickelson, who was named Daktronics second team All-America and led the nation with 25 home runs.  Shortstop Amber Roundtree and pitcher Christie Robinson were both honorable mention All-America selections.  Robinson was also named RMAC and Central Region Pitcher of the Year.

After winning the RMAC regular season title, Metro State bounced back in the loser’s bracket to win the RMAC Tournament after dropping a second round game.  The Roadrunners swept Mesa State in the championship, winning 19-6 in the first game and 11-9 in 10 innings in the championship game.  They went on to go 3-0 at the regional tournament, topping Mesa State again and Minnesota State twice.  Facing No. 17 Wayne State (Neb.) in the super regional, Metro State won game one 2-1 on a walk-off home run by Jennessa Tesone and took game two 6-2 in nine innings to advance to the World Series.

At the World Series in St. Joseph, Mo., the Roadrunners fell in the opening round to No. 19 Angelo State (Texas).  Fisher’s team regrouped and edged No. 7 Wayne State (Mich.) 1-0 and No. 1 North Georgia 4-1, beating first team All-America pitchers in each game.  North Georgia entered the World Series unbeaten.  The season finally came to an end with No. 3 Hawaii Pacific, which went on to win the national championship.

In addition to the national coach of the year award, Fisher and her staff were named NFCA Central Region Coaching Staff of the Year.

In three years, Fisher’s players earned five Daktronics All-America awards, 20 all-conference awards, 11 National Fastpitch Coaches Association all-region honors and 10 Daktronics all-region honors.  Her players also excelled in the classroom, earning Academic All-RMAC eight times with two student-athletes being named Academic All-District in 2010.

Fisher established an off-the-field partnership with the Denver West High School softball team. The Roadrunners “adopted” DWHS and helped the girls with life skills, as well as academic and personal pressures. For Fisher and her team’s efforts, Metro State received a community engagement award from the NCAA.

Prior to her time at Metro State, Fisher spent eight seasons as the head coach at Otero Junior College in La Junta, Colo., posting a record of 355-119 with seven consecutive Region IX championships, two district championships and National Junior College Athletic Association national tournament appearances in 2005 and 2006.  She also coached four seasons total as an assistant coach between Rocky Mountain High School and Poudre High School.

Metro State will begin the search for its next head coach immediately.