University of Maryland Athletics

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland head women's basketball coach Brenda Frese was presented with the United States Sports Academy's C. Vivian Stringer Coach of the Year award, an award she earned after leading the Terps to the program's first national title in 2006 in only her fourth season at the helm.

USSA President Dr. Thomas R. Rosandich presented Frese with the award in a private ceremony in Comcast Center's Heritage Hall on Wednesday. The award, which is named after legendary head women's basketball coach C. Vivian Stringer, is presented to a woman who has demonstrated outstanding achievement as a coach. The honor has been presented every year since 2002.

In 2005-06, Frese led Maryland to a school-record 34 wins, while winning its first national championship. It was the Terrapins' first trip to the Final Four since 1989. That season, the team was 6-0 in overtime games, including the title match, where Maryland topped Duke, 78-75, in the extra period.

Frese, who just completed her fifth season as head coach of the Terps, was the fifth-youngest coach in NCAA history to win the national championship and the ninth to do so in her first trip to the Final Four. Frese is considered one of the top recruiting coaches in the nation, luring five-straight top 10-ranked classes.