<!-- components/7-page-content/news-story-content.php --> <?php outputElement("header", "Dane Fischer named 31st William &amp; Mary head men’s basketball coach"); ?> <?php $use_menu = "page-nav-news"; outputMenu($use_menu); ?> <?php outputElement('photoset'); ?> <div class="article-meta"><span class="author"> by W&amp;M Athletics staff</span> |&nbsp; <span class="date">April 2, 2019</span></div> <p>William &amp; Mary Director of Athletics Samantha K. Huge announced on Tuesday that Dane Fischer will serve as the 31st head men’s basketball coach in Tribe history. Fischer, a 16-year coaching veteran, comes to W&amp;M after spending the last four seasons as the top assistant at George Mason.&nbsp;</p> <p>Fischer will be formally introduced to the William &amp; Mary community and to media at 10 a.m. on Wednesday on the court in Kaplan Arena. The university and Fischer have agreed to a five-year contract, the terms of which will be made public once the contract has been fully executed. <br> <br> The introductory press conference will be open to the public and streamed online at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/wmtribeathletics">Facebook Live</a> and <a href="https://portal.stretchinternet.com/wandm/portal.htm?eventId=491899&amp;streamType=video">TribeAthletics.com</a>. </p> <p> <img alt="Dane Fischer" class="rightwithcaption" height="316" src="<?php echo $asset_url; ?>/news/images/2019/content/fischer_content.jpg" width="210" /> “When the advisory group and I developed the ideal profile of our next head coach, we solicited input from our current team members, basketball alumni, and others who passionately care about Tribe Basketball,” Huge said. “We sought a leader who will attract and develop student-athletes of character who excel in the classroom, who will compete for — and win — championships, and who will serve as great ambassadors for William &amp; Mary.&nbsp; Dane Fischer is exactly who we need. </p> <p>“He is a competitor. He understands what is required to win at a highly selective academic institution and he embraces all that makes William &amp; Mary special. Throughout the process, Dane clearly articulated his belief that his role is to teach, mentor, and inspire the men in his charge while establishing a level of excellence befitting a Division I university.&nbsp; He is a coach who wants to do all that he can to see his student-athletes realize their dreams, including participating in the NCAA Tournament. I am thrilled to welcome Dane, his wife Chelsea, and their two young children into our Tribe family.”</p> <p> <img alt="Over the last four seasons, Fischer helped head coach Dave Paulsen in leading a turnaround of the George Mason program. (Courtesy photo)" class="leftwithcaption" height="265" src="<?php echo $asset_url; ?>/news/images/2019/content/fischer-set2.jpg" width="475" /> Regarded as a tireless recruiter, an elite basketball tactician, and one of the rising stars in the coaching business, Fischer has been instrumental in turning multiple programs into winners. Throughout his career, he has helped teams earn seven post-season appearances, six regular-season conference championships, three NCAA Tournament bids, three conference tournament crowns, two National Invitation Tournament berths and an NCAA Division III National Runner-up finish.</p> <?php outputElement("sharebar"); ?>