Brenda Frese, who is currently in her 12th year as the women’s basketball head coach at the University of Maryland, recently signed a multi-year extension to her contract, director of athletics Kevin Anderson announced Friday.
The extension keeps Frese on the Maryland sidelines through at least June 2021. With the extension, she could earn up to four additional years, through June 2025, with rollovers.
"Coach Frese has been the driving force in putting Maryland women’s basketball in a position of national prominence during her time here in College Park," Anderson said. "Her 2006 national title, ACC dominance and consistent top recruiting classes have made Maryland a contender year after year."
"We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to ensure that her passion and vision will enable us to remain as one of the top programs in the country for many years to come."
Frese brought the Terrapins their first national title back in 2006 and has earned an overall record of 280-81 (.749) in her time in College Park. The Terps have finished in the top four of the ACC in six of the last seven years and won the 2009 and 2012 ACC titles. In her 11 postseasons, she’s taken the Terrapins to five Sweet Sixteens and four Elite Eights.
The 2002 Associated Press National Coach of the Year has brought in eight top-10 recruiting classes since coming to College Park, and four of her players have won ACC Rookie of the Year honors.
"I really want to thank our director of athletics, Kevin Anderson, President Wallace Loh and the entire university for this extension," Frese said. "I’m very grateful to be able to represent one of the top universities in the world and have such longevity. I’ve been fortunate to have great players, a terrific staff and an incredibly supportive community. Maryland has been a-dream-come true for me, both professionally and personally. I want it to be that way for all the great people we bring into our program.
"I truly feel like this is the best place in the country to be in so many different ways. There’s no place that has a better combination of where to live, where to get a great education and where to have a great basketball experience. "
Maryland has led the ACC in attendance since Frese took the reins in April 2002, leading the league in six of the last eight years. Nine of the conference’s top 10 single-game attendance records belong to Maryland under Frese’s tenure.
No. 7 Maryland will welcome the defending national champion Connecticut to Comcast Center Friday for a 6 p.m. nationally-televised top 10 matchup.
Tickets are still available at umterps.com. All fans are encouraged to wear red and the first 10,000 fans will receive glow sticks. The game will be shown nationally on ESPNU and ESPN3.com. It can also be heard on the Terrapin Sports Radio Network and CBS 1300 in Baltimore.
After Friday’s matchup, the Terrapins will welcome George Washington to Comcast for a 7 p.m. game Tuesday, Nov. 19, which will be shown live online for a fee on umterps.com.
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