It was February 22, 1989, and the Harvard men's squash team had just defeated previously-undefeated Yale, 6-3, to earn a share of the Ivy League title.

During the team meeting, Harvard Coach Dave Fish displayed a lot of composure after one of the greatest wins in Harvard squash history. He communicated to his players how proud he was of them.

After the squad left the room, only Fish, Assistant Coach Jon Anz, the legendary Harvard Coach Jack Barnaby, and one enigmatic Crimson reporter were left in the room.

Fish suddenly thrust his fist up in the air and shouted, "Yeah. What a match."

He spent the next five minutes talking about the win.

So much for composure.

The victory was Fish's last match as coach of the Harvard men's squash program. He isn't exactly leaving the program out in the cold. Fish will do everything that he did before but travel with the team. Meet Harvard's new associate squash coach, Dave Fish.

"The team did an unbelievable job," Fish said after the Yale match. "I was flattered that they put all of their energy into that match. It was like, 'Let's win one for the coach.' It's an exciting time that I won't forget."

Fish has always been popular and respected by his players and opposing teams. He has a perfect image. He doesn't drink, smoke or hit a lousy backhand. He has an excellent sense of humor.

But Fish wasn't joking around when he announced in mid-January that he was stepping down as the squash team's head coach. He simply couldn't continue committing his time to both the Harvard men's squash and men's tennis programs.

"It was really difficult," Fish said. "I love both sports. I finally realized that I couldn't do both and I went back and forth [between the two] for years. I heard rumors for years that I was going to leave one or the other."

Fish won't be missed by opposing coaches, but the squash world is losing one of its greatest minds. And reporters will miss his sense of humor, his candor and his accessibility.

"I've had a lot of thrills with the squash program," Fish says. "It's not without a mixture of regret, but it's not like I'm not going to be there."

One of the main reasons for his decision to step down was the excessive traveling schedule, which kept him from his family, his wife, June, and his two kids, Alex and Ashley.

"Alex told me that he's excited that he's going to see me more," Fish admits. "But he also told me that he liked boasting to his friends that his dad was the coach of the [Harvard] men's tennis and squash teams."