March 7, 2005
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
Maryland women's basketball head coach Brenda Frese was named one of 20 finalists for the Naismith Coach of the Year award, the Atlana Tipoff Club recently announced.
The top 20 list was compiled by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors, comprised of leading basketball journalists, coaches and administrators from around the country. The board based its criteria on coaching performance this season.
The 2002 Associated Press Coach of the Year, Frese has guided the Terps to one of the most successful seasons in recent history, reaching the 20-win plateau for the first time in her three years in College Park and the second time in her career. Maryland's 21 wins this year are the most since the
1992-93 campaign. As the sixth seed in the ACC Tournament, the Terps upset third-seeded and 19th-ranked NC State in the quarterfinals on March 5 to advance to the semifinals for the second straight year.
Under Frese this season, Maryland has been ranked in the Associated Press national top 25 for 16-consecutive weeks, earning as high as a No. 15 ranking. Also this season with Frese at the helm, freshman Crystal Langhorne was voted ACC Rookie of the Year, the first Terp since 1991 to earn the honor, and two Terps were named to the All-ACC squad, including sophomore Shay Doron who was selected to the first team, the first Terrapin in 11 years to be named to the first team.
The 20 finalists will be on the ballot in March when the Board of Selectors votes to select this year's top collegiate coach in the nation. The winner will be recognized at the Naismith Awards Banquet on April 8 in Atlanta.
Coach School
Geno Auriemma Connecticut
Pam Borton Minnesota
Doug Bruno DePaul
Pokey Chatman LSU
Bill Fennelly Iowa State
Jim Foster Ohio State
Brenda Frese Maryland
Gail Goestenkors Duke
Sylvia Hatchell North Carolina
Cathy Inglese Boston College
Joanne Palombo-McCallie Michigan State
Deb Patterson Kansas State
Muffet McGraw Notre Dame
Kim Mulkey-Robertson Baylor
Sue Semrau FSU
Marsha Sharp Texas Tech
Dawn Staley Temple
C. Vivian Stringer Rutgers
Pat Summitt Tennessee
Tara VanDerveer Stanford
