San Diego State: Aztecs Pick Up Option to Extend Fisher’s Contract

San Diego State has exercised a two-year contract option on coach Steve Fisher to keep him on board until 2012-13, according to a Mountain West Conference release.

The 11-year coach has led the Aztecs to four consecutive 20-win seasons, all of which included postseason play. In 2008-09, San Diego State won a school-record 26 games and made it all the way to the NIT’s semifinals before it succumbed to Baylor.

Fisher has a 173-140 overall record in 10 seasons at San Diego State.

“Steve Fisher’s success in men’s basketball at San Diego State is unprecedented in our history,” SDSU Director of Athletics Jeff Schemmel said. “We are elated to extend his stay as the Aztec head coach, and look forward to even greater days ahead.”

Tennessee: Pearl Decides That KKK Joke Wasn’t in Good Taste

Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl caught lots of laughs for a joke that associated the hometown of one of his players to the Ku Klux Klan. According to a CBSsports.com report, he has since apologized, avoiding further drama that could have come out of the harmless-intended remark.

“I’ve got a tough job,” Pearl said, referring to the challenge of coaching a team of players from different backgrounds. “I’ve got to put these guys from different worlds together, right? I’ve got guys from Chicago, Detroit. I’m talking about the ‘hood! And I’ve got guys from Grainger County, where they wear the hood!”

The joke was caught on WBIR-TV cameras. Pearl then issued an apology in which he explained he “did not intend to offend anybody,” especially no one from Grainger County, a northeast Tennessee County which is home to Volunteers freshman Skylar McBee.

McBee’s father, Doug McBee, said there was “no hard feelings at all” over the incident.

Maryland: Top Recruit Charged With Assault

Maryland freshman forward Jordan Williams will appear in a Connecticut court Oct. 5 after authorities charged him with misdemeanor assault and breach of peace, according to an NBC4 Washington report.

Torrington, Conn., police arrested Williams and four others for an incident that occurred in early August. They did not provide more details about the alleged assault.

Williams is a 6-9 recruit rated in the top 100, according to Rivals.com. He moved up the recruiting charts during the past year and figures to provide some needed beef in the post for the Terrapins. The school has not commented on the charges.

Grambling State: Duckett Resigns As Controversy About Player’s Death Builds

Grambling State coach Rick Duckett announced that he will resign after junior Henry White died Aug. 14 after participating in an off-season conditioning workout, according to the News Star.

Duckett decided to step down as the university and an attorney representing White’s family investigate the player’s death. During that same conditioning program, two other players collapsed.

“We start from a position that it’s very troubling that the university was running these athletes at 2 p.m. in August in Louisiana,” [attorney Larry] English said.

In one season at Grambling State, Duckett had a 6-23 record. The Tigers have had two winning seasons in the past 17 years.

Cincinnati: Bearcats Like Team’s Progress Under Cronin, Extend His Contract

Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin received a two-year contract extension Tuesday, according to a WKRC-Cincinnati report. Cronin’s deal will now expire in 2014.

Cronin, who was hired in 2006, led the Bearcats to an 18-14 record in 2008-09. It was the first winning season during a tenure that’s seen an improvement in wins each year.

“Under Coach Cronin’s leadership the past three years, the men’s basketball program has improved on the court and in the classroom,” said Director of Athletics Mike Thomas. “I look forward to the continued development of the program to once again attain national prominence and compete for Big East championships on an annual basis.”

Kentucky: Courts Offer Gillispie Plea Deal in DUI Case

According to an Associated Press report, former Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie has been offered a plea bargain regarding a charge for driving under the influence.

Gillispie was stopped in Anderson County, Ky., last month and refused sobriety tests. He later checked into an alcohol rehab program in Texas.

Gillispie’s attorney, William Patrick, attended a pretrial conference Wednesday and said the bargain was reasonable but that he needed to discuss it with Gillespie.

Gillispie, fired this season after two years at Kentucky, is scheduled to appear in court Oct. 5.

NCAA: Ish Will Lead NCAA as Interim President

According to an Associated Press report, the NCAA has chosen James Ish, vice president for administration and chief financial office, to be the interim replacement of former NCAA president Myles Brand, who died of pancreatic cancer last week. Brand was 67.

According to NCAA Executive Committee Chairman Michael Adams, there is no timetable for naming a new full-time president, although Ish is a contender for the job.

Ish was one of four members in the president’s Cabinet who helped oversee day-to-day tasks as Brand was treated for cancer during the past nine months. Ish said his top priority as the interim president is to follow Brand’s vision with a personal touch.

The executive committee won’t meet again until Oct. 29. The election of a president will most likely be the main topic of discussion. Besides Adams, Cabinet member Bernard Franklin and University of Hartford president Walter Harrison are believed to be top candidates for the position.

Maryland: Williams Gets Mild Support With One-Year Extension

Maryland has added one more year to the contract of coach Gary Williams, according to an Associated Press report. The new extension will keep the 21-year Terrapin coach in the job until at least 2013.

The winningest coach in Maryland history (418 wins) received a contract that includes automatic extensions for accomplishing athletic and academic benchmark standards. William has a record of 625-357 in 31 seasons of coaching.

BYU: Rose Declares Victory in His Bout With Cancer

BYU coach Dave Rose has won his battle with cancer, according to a SportingNews.com report.

The coach told reporters scans “came back normal” and that there are no signs of the cancerous tumor that was removed from his pancreas and spleen in June at a Las Vegas hospital. Rose didn’t need to undergo chemotherapy. He has another scan scheduled in another six months.

Rose will enter his fifth season when practices begin midway through October. Rose said he feels great.

BYU will likely be the preseason pick to win the Mountain West Conference.

West Virginia: Huggins Reinstates Key Member of Backcourt

West Virginia guard Darryl Bryant, who had 28 starts and averaged 9.8 points per game last season, has been reinstated by coach Bob Huggins, according to the Charleston Daily Mail.

“Darryl has done everything that has been asked of him on all fronts,” head coach Bob Huggins said. “I believe he has earned the opportunity to be reinstated to our team.”