University of Delaware head women’s basketball coach Sarah Jenkins has announced the appointment of Fred Batchelor as associate head coach ahead of the 2024-25 season. With an impressive coaching pedigree and a proven track record of success, Batchelor brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the program with his tenure officially beginning on June 1.
I am honored to have Coach Batchelor join our program and the Blue Hen community,” said coach Jenkins. “His experience alone will add immeasurable value to our program and what we are building. He is well respected in this industry and I cannot wait for him to begin this journey with us. With over 20 years of head coaching experience, Coach Batchelor has demonstrated loyalty, hard work, constant competitiveness and a track record of building a healthy culture and success. I am beyond excited to have him as a part of our program and can’t wait to get started.
Batchelor arrives in Newark after an illustrious 20-year tenure as the head women’s basketball coach at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES). During his time at UMES, Batchelor solidified his legacy as the winningest coach in the program’s history, amassing 191 wins and achieving .500 or better in conference play in 10 of the last 15 seasons.
I am extremely excited to join the leadership team of the University of Delaware Athletics,” said Batchelor. “I am honored to have the opportunity to serve Coach Jenkins’ leadership in continuing to build an epic women’s basketball program. Most importantly, I look forward to working with the elite student-athletes of Blue Hen nation and contributing to the university community.
Under Batchelor’s guidance, UMES showcased remarkable skill on the court, highlighted by standout performances in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament. His exceptional coaching acumen was evident in the development of top-tier players such as Mahogany Lester and Ariana Seawell, who earned All-MEAC honors under his tutelage this past season. In the 2018-19 season, UMES achieved a program-record 17 wins, leading to Batchelor’s well-deserved recognition as MEAC Coach of the Year. Additionally, Batchelor’s tenure saw the emergence of young talent, with seven student-athletes earning spots on the MEAC All-Rookie Team. Noteworthy achievements include Casey Morton’s distinction as the eighth player in Maryland Eastern Shore women’s basketball history to score 1,000 points, earning her the Rookie of the Year award in the 2007-08 season, and April McBride’s consistent excellence, receiving First Team All-MEAC recognition for three consecutive years.
Beyond individual accolades, Batchelor’s impact extended to the overall success of the program, with players like Alexis Udoji, Jessica Long, Moengaroa Subritzky, Shawnee Sweeney, and Kristi Veltkamp earning recognition for their outstanding contributions. Their achievements include MEAC Defensive Player of the Year awards, All-MEAC Team selections, and All-MEAC Rookie Team selections. Toni Kennedy’s exceptional performance in leading the nation in three-pointers made per game during the 2005-06 season further underscored UMES’s legacy of excellence under Batchelor’s leadership.
Before his tenure at UMES, Batchelor was the head women’s basketball coach at Elizabeth City State, where he led the Vikings to a third-place finish and a semifinal CIAA tournament appearance. Additionally, Batchelor has a rich coaching history, including stints coaching men’s basketball at various institutions such as Villa Maria Junior College, where he orchestrated a remarkable turnaround, and his alma mater Buffalo State College, where he made history as the first African-American coach to win the State University of New York Athletic Conference championship in its 60-plus-year existence. As a result, he was voted SUNYAC Coach of the Year and guided the Bengals to an NCAA Division III tournament appearance.
Batchelor holds a Bachelor’s degree from Valley Forge Christian College, where he was a standout athlete, and a master’s degree in Multi-disciplinary Studies from Buffalo State College. While at VFCC, Batchelor was a two-time National Christian College All-American point guard recording over 1,600 points and over 800 assists and was later inducted into VFCC’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Batchelor is currently pursuing his doctorate in Educational Leadership at UMES and he is actively involved in various organizations, including the GHTC Board of Directors, Princess Anne Chamber of Commerce, and the American Association of Blacks in Higher Education.
https://bluehens.com/news/2024/5/10/fred-batchelor-joins-womens-basketball-as-associate-head-coach
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