UMD Announces Contract Extension for Brenda Frese

UMD Announces Contract Extension for Brenda Frese

Per the University of Maryland:

University of Maryland Director of Athletics Damon Evans has announced an agreement with women’s basketball head coach and National Coach of the Year Brenda Frese that extends her contract through the 2026-27 season. Frese’s new six-year contract became effective this month and includes an additional one-year extension for the 2027-28 season.

“Coach Frese has shown consistent excellence on and off the court throughout her 19 years here at Maryland,” Evans said. “Coach Frese’s teams have shown unprecedented success in the Big Ten and have sustained success among the nation’s best. Her program is a model for many because the student-athletes she brings to Maryland are simply the best of the best. We wanted to make sure she is leading our Terrapins for many years to come.”

“First of all, I am grateful that Maryland believes in our program,” Frese said. “Maryland is really a place where student-athletes can have it all. We take great pride in the name on the front of our uniforms and representing an elite university.

“I want to thank President Darryll Pines, Athletic Director Damon Evans and Deputy AD Colleen Sorem for their commitment and support of our team. I am honored and humbled to have led this program the past 19 years and am so proud of the national power we have rebuilt and sustained. I am looking forward to what lies ahead in the future and making some more Maryland magic.”

Frese was named National Coach of the Year by ESPN, the Associated Press and The Athletic after this past season. She is one of just three coaches to be named AP Coach of the Year more than once, joining Geno Auriemma (Connecticut), Kim Mulkey (LSU) and Muffet McGraw (former Notre Dame head coach).

Frese’s teams have earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament in 17 of her 19 seasons at Maryland, advancing to three Final Fours, six Elite Eights and nine Sweet Sixteens. She brought home the 2006 NCAA Championship in her fourth season. Frese’s team’s also own a 100 percent graduation rate in her 19 years in College Park and 16 of her Terrapins have been drafted into the WNBA.

Under Frese, Maryland has won 14 conference championships, including regular season and tournament titles. Her Terrapins have won six of seven Big Ten championships since joining the league in 2014.

After losing five starters from last year’s Big Ten Championship squad, Frese and her 2020-21 staff reloaded with five newcomers and the return of five sophomores. Frese’s Terrapins did not miss a beat this year, earning a record of 26-3 overall, 17-1 in league play and winning the program’s sixth Big Ten title in seven years. The Terrapins advanced to their ninth Sweet Sixteen under Frese.

The 2020-21 Terps were the highest scoring team in program history, averaging 90.8 points per game. The Terps also led the nation in assist turnover ratio (1.7).

This season, Frese won her 500th game at Maryland, making her the winningest coach in program history. She currently owns a record of 512-131 (.796) at Maryland and 569-161 (.780) in her 22 years as a head coach, which includes stops at Minnesota and Ball State.

This year marked Frese’s fourth Big Ten Coach of the Year honor, having previously won in 2002, 2015 and 2019. She was also named ACC Coach of the Year in 2013 and MAC Coach of the Year in 2000.