Mark Fisher diagnosed with ALS

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San Diego State assistant coach Mark Fisher, the 34-year-old son of Aztecs coach Steve Fisher, has been diagnosed with ALS, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

Mark Fisher was diagnosed with ALS about two years ago, and the family had decided to keep it private until Friday, when a release from the school announced staff changes in which Fisher will become an assistant to the head coach and David Velasquez will be promoted to assistant coach.

Fisher has been on the staff for 12 seasons, the past seven as an assistant. He has helped take the Aztecs from a downtrodden program to one that has gone to the NCAA tournament a school-record four consecutive seasons. San Diego State finished 23-11 last season.

ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, attacks the motor neurons, or nerve cells, that control voluntary muscle movement.

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Jeff Goodman

ESPN Insider

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• Joined ESPN as a college basketball Insider in June 2013
• Previously wrote for CBSSports.com and FOXSports.com