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Cindy Fisher was named the University of San Diego head women's basketball coach on April 19, 2005.
In only her second season at the helm of the program, Fisher orchestrated the biggest turn around in school history, a 12-game improvement from 9-19 in the 2005-06 season to a 21-9 record in 2006-07 season. The turn around was the fourth best in the nation. USD has set a lot of records along the way as they have recorded the first-ever 20-win season in program history, finished second place in the West Coast Conference for the first time in program history and had the best overall start in program history at 6-0 and in conference play at 6-0. Under her tutelage, the Toreros placed three players on the All-WCC lists highlighted by Amanda Rego being named the WCC Co-Player of the Year. Rego and Amber Sprague both took home first-team All-WCC honors and Morgan Henderson was named to the All-WCC Freshman team. For her efforts,Fisher was named the 2007 WCC Co-Coach of the Year.
During her first season at USD, the Toreros showed remarkable improvement. The Toreros did record a huge 15-point win over Santa Clara on the road and were close in games against Georgia Tech, Boise State and against Loyola Marymount in the first round of the WCC Championship Tournament. Fisher also helped guide Tiara Harris to an All-WCC selection and Kelly Winther to an All-WCC Freshman team selection.
Fisher, the University of Nebraska's top assistant the previous two seasons, and head coach for Wyoming between 1998-2003, became USD's third head coach dating back to the program's inception in 1978-79. She took over for Kathy Marpe who stepped down after directing the program for 25 years.
Fisher helped lead Nebraska to back-to-back appearances in the WNIT during her two seasons with the Huskers. In 2004-05, the team finished 18-14 overall and 8-8 in the Big 12. The Huskers recorded the program's first win over a top-5 team with its 103-99 victory over eventual NCAA National Champion, Baylor, in January of 2005. They also posted Big 12 wins over No. 14 Iowa State and Oklahoma, both NCAA Tournament participants. Fisher recruited and coached Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, Jelena Spiric, and recruited and developed post player, Danielle Page, who earned Big 12 Rookie of the Week honors twice.
During the 2003-04 campaign, the Huskers finished 18-12 overall, and produced one of the top 10 turnarounds in NCAA Division I women's basketball with 10 more victories. The team earned two wins over top 25 teams; the team cracked the top-25 national rankings for the first time since 1999; and the 2004 recruiting class was ranked 28th nationally.
In five seasons as the head coach at Wyoming, Fisher compiled a 59-81 record. However, Fisher's accomplishments at Wyoming go well beyond her overall coaching record. Fisher's Cowgirl teams showed improvement in each of her five seasons, culminating with an 18-12 mark in 2002-03. The 18 wins were the school's most victories since 1989-90. She also led the Cowgirls to their first postseason appearance since 1989-90 with a trip to the 2003 WNIT, where Wyoming notched a first-round win over Montana. The WNIT win over Montana marked the first postseason victory in Wyoming women's basketball history. Her 2001-2002 team at Wyoming finished No. 1 in the country in academic excellence with a team GPA of 3.486.
Before taking the job at Wyoming, Fisher spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Old Dominion. She served as the Lady Monarchs' recruiting coordinator and scheduling coordinator and prepared scouting reports, while also acting as the team's public relations liaison. During her three-year stint, ODU compiled a 92-8 record, including a 34-win season and a pair of 29-win seasons. Old Dominion advanced to the national championship game in 1997, and qualified for the Sweet 16 in each of her three seasons. Fisher also built up her coaching resume with stops at Weber State (1994-95), Mesa CC in Arizona (1988-90; 1993-94), and Illinois State (1992-93; graduate assistant, 1990-92).
From Cheyenne, Wyoming, Fisher was a three-year starter at Cheyenne Central High School, before competing at Eastern Wyoming College in Torrington. Her career was cut short by a hip injury, but she earned her associate's degree in 1984. She transferred to Arizona State and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education with an emphasis in Exercise Physiology in 1988.
After graduation, she served as a physical education instructor at Mesa Community College from 1988 to 1990, before completing her Master's Degree in Physical Education with an emphasis in Administration of Sport at Illinois State in 1992.
