Dane Fife

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Dane Fife
Sport(s) Basketball
Current position
Title Assistant Coach
Team Michigan State
Biographical details
Born (1979-07-26) July 26, 1979 (age 44)
Clarkston, Michigan, USA
Playing career
1998–2002 Indiana
2002 Gary Steelheads
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2003–05 Indiana (asst.)
2005–2011 IPFW
2011–present Michigan State (asst.)
Head coaching record
Overall 82–97 (.458)

Dane Fife ((1979-07-26)July 26, 1979) is an American college basketball coach. He is a currently an assistant coach at Michigan State under head coach Tom Izzo.[1]

Fife is the former head coach of the Indiana University – Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) Mastodons men's basketball team and former college assistant coach at Indiana University. Fife is the son of Clarkston High School head coach and former Minnesota Twins pitcher Dan Fife.[2] He is the younger brother of former Michigan basketball captain Dugan Fife.[3]

Playing career

Fife played basketball and football for Clarkston High School in Clarkston, Michigan. In basketball, he was coached by his father, Dan Fife. After his senior season in 1998, he was named Mr. Basketball of Michigan over runner-up Antonio Gates,[4] and was also named a McDonald's All-American and Parade All-American. A blue-chip recruit in basketball and also a star quarterback, Fife was recruited to play both sports in college. He ultimately committed to play basketball for Indiana University under head coach Bob Knight. He chose Indiana over Duke, Michigan State and Michigan, where his father had played baseball and his older brother Dugan had played basketball. Fife became a vocal supporter of Knight,[5] and nearly transferred from the team to Michigan State[6] following the coach's firing in 2000.[7]

Fife was a starter for the Indiana Hoosiers during their 2002 NCAA runner-up campaign. He finished his career with the Hoosiers having scored 736 total points. Fife also owns Indiana's all-time steals record (180) and earned the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award his senior season of 2001–02.

One of the more well-known plays of his college career came on a controversial call during the final seconds of a 2002 Sweet Sixteen game against Duke. The Blue Devils were down by four points with enough time remaining for one play when Fife was called for fouling Jason Williams on a 3-point shot. Williams' shot was good, and he was given the opportunity to tie the game with a free throw. Fortunately for Fife, Williams failed to make the free throw, and the Hoosiers advanced to the Elite Eight by holding on for a 74–73 win. Fife is often asked about the play and denies committing the foul to this day. The Hoosiers continued their NCAA Tournament run, defeating Kent State and Oklahoma before falling to Maryland in the National Championship game, 64–52.

Fife played one season of professional basketball, in 2002 with the Gary Steelheads of the Continental Basketball Association.

Coaching career

Assistant at Indiana

Fife spent two seasons as an assistant coach to Mike Davis at Indiana University. During his time as an assistant, he concurrently earned a master's degree in athletic administration.[8]

Head coach of IPFW

Fife was named head coach of the IPFW Mastodons basketball team in 2005 at the age of 25.[9] In his first season he led the Mastodons to 10 wins, the most the team had earned in a season since jumping to Division I in 2001.[9] In his fifth season as coach, the Mastodons posted their first ever winning record as a Division I basketball team.[9] Since joining the Summit League in the 2007–08 season, the Mastodons have finished no worse than fifth place in conference play.

The 2009–10 squad produced the first winning record since the program joined Division I in 2001.[10]

Before the 2010–11 season, Fife had considered assistant coaching jobs at Indiana under Tom Crean and Michigan under John Beilein.[11][12] He ultimately remained at IPFW, where he coached the team to a program-best 18–12 record.[13]

Following the 2010–11 season Fife was contacted by Purdue basketball head coach Matt Painter to fill the associate head coach position. On April 15, 2011, Fife withdrew his name from consideration for the Purdue job.[14]

Fife's teams at IPFW improved their winning percentage from the previous season in each year that Fife coached.

Assistant at Michigan State

Fife was named assistant coach at Michigan State by Tom Izzo on April 20, 2011. He replaced Mark Montgomery, who was named head coach at Northern Illinois in March 2011.[15]

Head coaching record

Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
IPFW (Independent) (2005–2006)
2005–2006 IPFW 10–18
IPFW (United Basketball Conference) (2006–2007)
2006–2007 IPFW 12–17 6–4 3rd
IPFW (The Summit League) (2007–2011)
2007–2008 IPFW 13–18 9–9 5th
2008–2009 IPFW 13–17 8–10 5th
2009–2010 IPFW 16–15 9–9 5th
2010–2011 IPFW 18–12 11–7 4th
IPFW: 82–97 43–39
Total: 82–97

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References

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  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/fife_dane00.html
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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