Mia Fisher is currently in her third season as an assistant coach in Bonnie Henrickson's coaching staff after making the return to her alma mater in May 2015.
Her first season on the UCSB sideline was one marked by great improvement, as the Gauchos won more games (12-20 overall, 8-8 Big West) than the previous two years combined. UCSB also went on to a return to the Big West Tournament after a yearlong absence, winning its first postseason game in three years.
"Having Mia join our coaching staff means a lot to our team and our community," Henrickson said last year. "Gaucho fans will remember the energy she brought on the floor as a player, she will be bringing that same passion as a coach. She is a proud alum who was a key part in many successful teams here, which is an invaluable asset as a coach. I am excited to have someone with her reputation on the staff."
Fisher returned to Santa Barbara last May after spending the 2014-15 season as an assistant coach for the San Jose State women's basketball team. She primarily worked on developing the team's point guards, scouting opponents and coordinating team travel in addition to recruiting.
Before working with the Spartans, Fisher honed her coaching skills at Stanford where she assisted in recruiting efforts, film exchange and video coordination. During her year in Palo Alto, the Cardinal reached the Final Four where it fell to eventual national champion Connecticut.
Before embarking on her collegiate coaching career, Fisher spent eight years playing professionally in Europe where she played for teams in Belgium, Bosnia, France and Turkey.
As many fans will remember, Fisher was a star shooting guard for UCSB from 2001-05 and played an integral role in the Gauchos' Sweet Sixteen run in 2004. She ended her collegiate career as a member of UCSB's All-Decade Team (2000-09) and is the most accurate shooting guard in school in UCSB and Big West history with a .523 shooting percentage. Fisher finished her career as the 11th leading scorer in school history (currently 12th) in netting 1,378 points. In addition, she ranks in the career top-10 for UCSB in field goal percentage (No. 6 – .523), assists (No. 10 – 327), and free throws made (No. 9 – 333). Fisher made the All-Big West team in every year of her career and also made the conference's All-Freshman team in 2002.
Playing her best when it counted most, Fisher set a Big West Tournament record in shooting 90 percent from the field (9-10) in UCSB's 74-56 win over CSUN in the 2005 conference semifinals. Behind that performance, the shooting guard was selected to the All-Tournament team. She led the Gauchos to four Big West Conference Championships and four trips to the NCAA Tournament.
Fisher got her first coaching experience at Bishop O'Dowd High School (Oakland, Calif.). From 2006-13, she was a Senior Trainer at Triple Threat Academy where she tutored young players in basketball skills and personal growth.
She also coached at her alma mater, Amador Valley High School (Pleasanton, Calif.), where she was a four-time team MVP. Fisher finished her career as the program's all-time leading scorer and led the team to NorCal and North Coast section titles in three consecutive years and runners-up twice in the state tournament.
