Is Another Branch of the Tom Izzo Coaching Tree About to Expand? Dane Fife Is A Hot Commodity For Open Bradley Job!
Is Another Branch of the Tom Izzo Coaching Tree About to Expand? Dane Fife Is A Hot Commodity For Open Bradley Job!
Carrier Dome
Syracuse, NY
On March 22, 2015 I was contacted at 9:35 PM and told via text about Bradley having interest in Michigan State assistant coach Dane Fife for their next men’s head basketball coach. Bradley was open after firing Geno Ford.
Fife was a highly successful basketball player in the state of Michigan graduating from Clarkston in 1998 with the Mr. Basketball trophy in hand. Playing for a state of Michigan High School coaching legend he happened to call dad, Dan Fife. Fife also garnered Parade & McDonald’s All American awards.
Fife prospered at Indiana leading his Hoosiers to the 2002 National Title game and a share of the Big Ten title. Fife again flashed his blue collar roots winning the Big Ten’s defensive player of the year. That still resonates in his coaching where all of his players have a Tom Izzo dedication to playing defense that made the Spartans head man covet Fife as a player and coach.
In 2005 after concluding his stint in pro basketball, young Fife (just 25) took over as the head man at IPFW becoming the nation’s youngest head coach. A title he held for several years. Here is a small capsule of his success at IPWF courtesy of MSU:
Prior to his arrival in East Lansing, he spent six seasons as head coach at IPFW. In each of his six seasons, IPFW tied or broke its record for wins at the Division I level, as Fife guided the Mastodons from Independent status to membership in the Summit League. He posted an 82-97 record, including a 34-27 mark over the last two seasons, and a four-year mark of 37-35 in conference. In his final season of 2010-11, IPFW finished with an 18-12 record, including an 11-7 record in the Summit League and secured the No. 4 seed in the Summit League Tournament, the program's highest seed ever in four years of conference membership. You can read his entire profile WHEN YOU CLICK HERE.
Many credit Fife with the development of Gary Harris and Keith Appling who both flourished under his tutelage. His work developing Tum Tum Nairn this year and Travis Trice’s continual upward assent are proof on their own of his skills.
Izzo gushed when Fife walked away from a head coaching job to join his staff. That made a lot of people really notice around the nation, but Izzo couldn’t hide his exuberance saying, “My relationship with Dane Fife dates back to when I started recruiting him as a high school prospect, and I'm happy to finally get him to Michigan State. His toughness, competitive spirit and enthusiasm will be great additions to our staff. Having played at Indiana and growing up in Michigan, he knows the Big Ten well and has recruited the area. As a player, he understands the commitment and dedication needed to reach a Final Four."
Bradley’s season came to an end with a 71-46 loss to Northern Iowa in the quarterfinal game of the Missouri Valley Conference. Bradley is in desperate need of vision and fresh leadership and that was why I was contacted and asked about Fife. He fits. Like a glove.
I found out on Wednesday of this week (via sources connected to Bradley) that Bradly had not spoken to Fife directly, but that they had, “Strong,†interest in him and wanted to have a conversation after a MSU tournament run. Sources at Bradley also told me, “We haven’t spoken to Dane directly, his attention is all in for the Spartans, but we will when the season ends.†Spartan Nation believes the interest is mutual and I plan to talk to Fife about it, whenever the season does end.
Fife’s work ethic as a player and a head coach is legendary. Bradley is located in Peoria, Illinois. With the Braves being in the Big Ten footprint it is a perfect fit for Fife who already has a superior knowledge both geographically and the landscape of basketball in the area.
Fife is the epitome of winning on the court and in the classroom. He has two degrees from his alma mater Indiana, one of which being a master’s in athletic administration. That is imperative to a school like Bradley that plays in a highly competitive conference, but is not willing to compromise in the classroom. Fife graduated an astounding 16 of his 16 seniors while the head man of the mastodons’.
Fife and his lovely wife Blair have two beautiful little girls who thankfully look like their mother.
