March 5, 2002
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Chris Weller, who led Maryland's women's basketball program to eight Atlantic Coast Conference titles and three Final Four appearances in 27 seasons as head coach, today announced she will retire from coaching and consider an administrative position within the athletics department.
A national search to name her successor will begin immediately, according to Kathy Worthington, senior associate athletic director for internal operations, who oversees the sport and will chair the selection committee.
"Chris has been a pioneer and a leader in women's basketball. Her coaching legacy at Maryland will always be remembered and appreciated by Terps everywhere," said Maryland Athletics Director Deborah A. Yow. "She is considering an administrative position within the department, helping us in an external role in the M Club or in a fundraising capacity, which would be of great value to us."
Ranked in the Top 25 in all-time coaching wins, Weller guided her teams to national championship tournaments 17 times in the past 24 seasons and averaged nearly 19 wins per year during the course of her career. In addition to leading Maryland to three Final Fours, the Terps also have won an ACC-best eight conference championships and reached the NCAA Elite Eight eight times and the Sweet 16 10 times. In nine of her 27 seasons, the Terps achieved national Top 10 rankings, including in 1992, when they were ranked No. 1 for much of the year and Weller was named Naismith and BWAA National Coach of the Year. She has led the Terps to a 499-286 record during her tenure.
"I have been thinking about this decision for awhile and feel it's an appropriate time for my retirement. The ceremonial closing of Cole Field House and the wonderful activities surrounding the 25th Anniversary of the ACC women's basketball tournament seem to provide a sense of culmination to a career that I have thoroughly enjoyed," commented Weller. "I am looking forward to taking some time off to make a decision about how I could continue to contribute to women's athletics and the University of Maryland as a program."
During her storied career at Maryland, she coached four All-Americans, five Olympians, and 20 all-ACC selections. This past weekend at the ACC Tournament, Weller was honored as the coach of the first ACC championship team ever in 1978, and as one of three coaches to have led her team through all 25 years of the ACC Tournament. Weller celebrated an unprecedented eight ACC Tournament titles with numerous Maryland alumni at the ACC's 25th Anniversary Gala on Sunday. This past Sunday, March 3, was also declared Chris Weller Day in the state of Maryland by Govenor Parris Glendening in recognition of her accomplishments.
A 1966 graduate of the University of Maryland, Weller was a four-year letterwinner in basketball for the Terps. Following graduation, she taught and coached at the high school level in Silver Spring, Md., before returning to the Maryland campus as an assistant coach in 1973. In 1975, she was elevated to head coach, guiding the Terps to a 20-win season and the program's first trip to the EAIAW Regionals. It was the first of 10 20-win seasons for Weller, who would later guide the Terps to Final Four appearances in 1978, 1982 and 1989.
