It’s always exciting to see an Alpena native doing well in the world.

That’s why we enjoyed a sports story this week telling of Alpena native Brian Dutcher’s appointment as head coach of San Diego State University’s men’s basketball program. Dutcher succeeds Steve Fisher, a long-time mentor, who at 72 retired at the end of the recently completed season.

Dutcher and Fisher share a long and interesting basketball story, having been together in coaching since 1989, when Fisher was hired at the University of Michigan and Dutcher was an assistant coach. Those were the glory years of Michigan’s famed “Fab Five” and Dutcher played an instrumental role in helping Fisher mold and make the five a team, and then a legend.

Even today after many decades later, youngsters playing basketball through the Thunder Bay Basketball Association know who you are speaking of when you mention the “Fab Five.”

It has been fun following Dutcher’s career and success over the years. We wish him well this coming season as the head coach of the Aztecs.