Head coach Brenda Frese promoted Maryland native Kaitlynn Fratz to assistant coach in the spring of 2019, after serving as an interim assistant for the 2018-19 season. Fratz is entering her seventh season as a full-time assistant for the Terps in 2023. In her six seasons as an assistant coach, Fratz has helped the Terps earn a record of 178-50 (.781) and win the 2019, 2020, 2021 Big Ten regular season titles and the 2020 and 2021 Big Ten Tournament titles. Fratz helped the Terrapins to four Sweet Sixteens in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025 and the 2023 Elite Eight.
In the spring of 2020, Fratz was named one of the WBCA's Thirty under 30 honorees as an up-and-coming women's basketball coach.
In 2018-19, she helped the Terrapins earn a record of 29-5, winning 12 games to start the year, including a dominant 85-61 win at No. 10 South Carolina in November. The Terps won 11 of 12 games to end the regular season and win their fourth Big Ten regular season title in five years. They earned a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
In 2019-20, the Terrapins earned a record of 28-4, winning 17 straight games to end the regular season and the Big Ten Tournament title. They clinched a share of their fifth Big Ten championship in six years with a record of 16-2 in conference play. Six Terrapins earned All-Big Ten honors - a program record. The Terps finished the season ranked No. 4 in the Associated Press and RPI rankings and were projected to be a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
In 2020-21, after losing all five starters, Fratz helped lead the Terrapins to an amazing season in which they went 26-3 overall, 17-1 in Big Ten play and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen. The Terrapins led the nation in scoring with 90.8 points per game.
In 2022-23, the Terrapins brought in a roster with nine newcomers after losing four of five starters to graduation and transfers. Fratz and the staff implemented new systems. Picked to finish fourth in the Big Ten and No. 17 in the preseason AP poll, the Terps surpassed all expectations, winning 28 games and picking up nine wins over ranked teams, including wins over No. 6 UConn, at No. 7 Notre Dame and over No. 7 Iowa. The Terps finished second in the Big Ten and advanced to the program's first Elite Eight since 2015.
Fratz helped the Terrapins put the finishing touches on the No. 3 recruiting class of 2019, which included McDonald’s All-American Diamond Miller.
Fratz, a native of Accident, Md., first joined the Maryland staff in the summer of 2017 and served as the Director of Recruiting Operations for the 2017-18 season. She helped the Terrapins to a record of 26-8, 12-4 in Big Ten play and their fourth straight Big Ten championship game. They advanced to the NCAA Second Round.
"We are thrilled to add Kaitlynn into her new role,” Frese said. “She is more than prepared for this next opportunity. She has a tremendous knowledge of the game and a wealth of experience for what our program needs. In addition, she has a terrific rapport with our players and staff. I know she will continue to make a mark on our team and program."
“It's hard to put into words how thankful, humbled, and excited I am for this opportunity,” Fratz said. “There are few programs in the country that have the adoration and following like we are fortunate to have here. Thanks to that passion, it is impossible not to carry an immense about of pride while wearing the M on your chest. I have to thank Coach Frese and all involved in the hiring process for allowing me to take the next step in my career, and I look forward to another year as part of the Terp family.”
Prior to her time in College Park, Fratz spent two years as a graduate assistant at Valdosta State. In her second season, she helped the Lady Blazers to a record of 22-10 and the 2017 Gulf South Conference title. They earned a bid to the NCAA South Region Tournament.
Fratz played her junior and senior seasons at California University of Pennsylvania, where she led the Vulcans to the 2015 Division II NCAA championship. Fratz was named the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament. She averaged 14.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.0 steals in 34.2 minutes per game in her senior season.
Fratz played her high school career at Northern Garrett High School, where she was a four-year letter winner. She earned four straight First Team All-Conference honors, was named Conference Player of the Year twice. She was also twice named Cumberland Times-News All-Area Player of the Year and the Cumberland Times-News Athlete of the Year. Fratz holds career school records for points, assists and steals. She broke the Garrett County record for points (2,103) and helped lead North Garrett to a state title.
