How Maryland women's basketball coach Brenda Frese has built a quiet legacy
When the conversation turns to influential coaches, names like Dawn Staley, Kim Mulkey and Geno Auriemma often dominate. Frese’s résumé gets overlooked.
CHAPEL HILL, N. C. — Maryland women's basketball coach Brenda Frese calmly shook Murray State head coach Rechelle Turner’s hand before celebrating with her team Friday afternoon.
For the Terrapins, the 99-67 win punched their ticket to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. For Frese, it was simply another step in a career that has quietly become one of the most accomplished in women’s college basketball history. When conversations turn to the sport’s most influential coaches, names like Dawn Staley, Kim Mulkey and Geno Auriemma often dominate while Frese’s résumé gets overlooked.
But year after year, the Maryland head coach continues to add to her legacy. Now in her third decade leading the Terrapins, Frese has built the program into one of the most consistent in the country, highlighted by a national championship in 2006. Leading Maryland to 16 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances is a feat in itself, but Frese's impact extends beyond the wins and tournament appearances.
“She’s one of the reasons why I came to play for Maryland,” junior guard Oluchi Okananwa said of her coach. “The way that she’s able to just stay level-headed and calm, because they’ve done this before. ” With at least one tournament win in 15 of the last 16 seasons, Frese has always done a great job preparing her teams for March.