TIME WITH THE COACH, LOOKING BACK AT HER STORIED CAREER. PETE: WHAT DID YOU ENVISION THIS COULD BE HERE? DID YOU ENVISION THIS? >> I REALLY DID. MAYBE A LITTLE NAIVE, BUT WHEN YOU’RE IN YOUR 30’S AND YOU THINK YOU CAN TAKE ON THE WORLD. PETE: 28 DAYS SHY OF HER 32ND BIRTHDAY TO BE EXACT AND BRENDA MADE CLEAR HER INTENTIONS FROM THE START. >> I AM HERE FOR ONE REASON, TO REJUVENATE THIS PROGRAM. PETE: THEY DID NOT TAKE LONG IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT TO GET IN GEAR TWO. THREE FINAL FOUR APPEARANCES IN TOTO THROUGH 20 SEASONS AND SEEKING A FOURTH THIS YEAR AS THE TERPS REACHED THE 16 AGAIN. SHE HAS 619 CAREER VICTORIES AS A HEAD COACH, A NUMBER THAT COULD REASONABLY REACH 1000 BY THE TIME SHE IS READY TO HANG IT UP, BUT SHE SAYS WITHOUT HESITATION LEGACY NUMBERS DO NOT MEAN VERY MUCH. >> FOR ME, IT IS HAVING AS MUCH IMPACT AS I CAN ON SO MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE’S LIVES. I HAVE ALWAYS SELFISHLY WANTED THESE FINAL FOUR’S TO CUT DOWN THE NETS FOR OUR PLAYERS AND THEIR FAMILIES THAT HAVE INVESTED SO MUCH IN OUR PROGRAM. PETE: THAT GIVING NATURE ALONG WITH TOUGHNESS, SHE COACHED THE 2007 AND 2008 SEASON PREGNANT WITH TWINS, GIVING BIRTH BEFORE THE ACC TOURNAMENT. THEN PERSONAL HEARTACHE, HER SON TYLER STRICKEN WITH LEUKEMIA AT AGE FOUR. HE IS NOW CANCER FREE. DRIVING THROUGH SO MUCH, THAT ABILITY COMES DIRECTLY FROM HER PARENTS. >> I KNEW THAT I WAS REALLY LOVED. TWO PARENTS THAT YOU JUST WATCHED LOVE AND SUPPORT. IN THE WORK ETHIC THAT THEY HAD TO RAISE SIX KIDS. THEY WERE AT EVERYTHING, I DO NOT REMEMBER THEM EVER MISSING A GAME. PETE: LOOKING BACK, THE GAME AND THAT MEANS THE MOST MAKES THE PERFECT SENSE. THE TITLE GAME 2021, 1 LAST RIDE FOR HER FAMILY. >> MY LAST ONE WAS MY DAD. AND YOU KNOW, I KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE HIS LAST ONE. PETE: BILL FRIESE PASSED AWAY DURING THE NEXT SEASON. THE VALUES HE INSTILLED IN BRENDA CARREON. SHE EMBRACES BECOMING A ROLE MODEL AND RELIES ON THE MIDWESTERN WORK ETHIC, IMPLYING THE POWER OF POSITIVITY AND THAT’S WHAT WOMEN AND GIRLS SEE. >> I LOVE THAT YOU CAN MODEL TO WOMEN OUT THERE THAT YOU CAN DO IT ALL. I THINK YOU ALSO THOUGH -- IT TAKES A VILLAGE. I AM NOT HERE BY MYSELF. PETE: GARY WILLIAMS SIGNATURE DONS THE COURT AT THE XFINITY CENTER AS IT SHOULD. A NATIONAL CHAMPION HE IS LARGELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS BUILDING BEING CREATED IN THE FIRST PLACE, BUT THE COURT HERE IS 94 FEET LONG AND 50 FEET WIDE. THERE IS ROOM FOR BRENDA FRESE’S SIGNATURE HERE FOR ALL SHE HAS DONE AND ALL THAT SHE THAT MAY DO.
Legendary coach Brenda Frese meets early, continued success at Maryland
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Updated: 5:55 PM EDT Mar 22, 2023
Legendary coach Brenda Frese has led the Maryland Terrapins for 21 seasons, becoming the school's all-time leader in just about every coaching record.Frese, who's 28 days shy of her 32nd birthday, made clear her intentions from the start."I am here for one reason: To rejuvenate this program," Frese said at her first news conference as Maryland head coach in 2002.It didn't take long.Maryland was back in the NCAA Tournament in her second year and celebrated a national championship by year four. The Terps had made three Final Four appearances in total through 20 seasons. And, they're seeking a fourth this year as the Terps reach the Sweet 16 again.| SWEET 16: Maryland ready for rematch against Notre DameFrese has 619 career victories as a head coach -- a number that could reasonably reach 1,000 by the time she's ready to hang it up.But she said, without hesitation, that legacy numbers don't mean very much."For me, it's just having as much impact as I can on so many different people's lives," Frese said. "For me, I always want these Final Fours, to cut down the nets for our players and their families that have invested so much in our program."| HIGH HONORS: AP women's coach of the year | Big Ten coach of the yearThat giving nature came along with toughness. Frese coached the 2007-08 season while pregnant with twins, giving birth just before the ACC Tournament.Then, there was personal heartache as her son, Tyler, was stricken with leukemia at age 4. He's now cancer-free.The ability to thrive through so much comes directly from her parents."I knew I was really loved (by) two parents that you just watched love and support, the work ethic that they had to raise six kids. They were at everything; I don't ever remember them missing a game. So, you knew you were loved and supported," Frese said.| VIDEO BELOW: Coach Brenda Frese gets 500th win in Maryland careerLooking back, the game that means the most makes perfect sense: The Big Ten title game in 2021, which was one last ride for her family as a whole."Obviously, personally, is the Iowa game, winning the Big Ten tournament championship -- my last one with my dad. And, whew, I knew it was going to be his last one," Frese said.| RELATED: Frese receives contract extension through 2028-29 seasonHer father, Bill Frese, died during the next season. The values he instilled in his daughter carry on. She embraces becoming a role model, relies on that Midwestern work ethic, employs the power of positivity, and that's what so many women and girls see."I love the fact that you can model to women out there that you can do it all. I think also, though, it takes a village. I'm not here by myself," Frese said.
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Legendary coach Brenda Frese has led the Maryland Terrapins for 21 seasons, becoming the school's all-time leader in just about every coaching record.
Frese, who's 28 days shy of her 32nd birthday, made clear her intentions from the start.
"I am here for one reason: To rejuvenate this program," Frese said at her first news conference as Maryland head coach in 2002.
It didn't take long.
Maryland was back in the NCAA Tournament in her second year and celebrated a national championship by year four. The Terps had made three Final Four appearances in total through 20 seasons. And, they're seeking a fourth this year as the Terps reach the Sweet 16 again.
| SWEET 16: Maryland ready for rematch against Notre Dame
Frese has 619 career victories as a head coach -- a number that could reasonably reach 1,000 by the time she's ready to hang it up.
But she said, without hesitation, that legacy numbers don't mean very much.
"For me, it's just having as much impact as I can on so many different people's lives," Frese said. "For me, I always want these Final Fours, to cut down the nets for our players and their families that have invested so much in our program."
| HIGH HONORS: AP women's coach of the year | Big Ten coach of the year
That giving nature came along with toughness. Frese coached the 2007-08 season while pregnant with twins, giving birth just before the ACC Tournament.
Then, there was personal heartache as her son, Tyler, was stricken with leukemia at age 4. He's now cancer-free.
The ability to thrive through so much comes directly from her parents.
"I knew I was really loved (by) two parents that you just watched love and support, the work ethic that they had to raise six kids. They were at everything; I don't ever remember them missing a game. So, you knew you were loved and supported," Frese said.
| VIDEO BELOW: Coach Brenda Frese gets 500th win in Maryland career
Looking back, the game that means the most makes perfect sense: The Big Ten title game in 2021, which was one last ride for her family as a whole.
"Obviously, personally, is the Iowa game, winning the Big Ten tournament championship -- my last one with my dad. And, whew, I knew it was going to be his last one," Frese said.
| RELATED: Frese receives contract extension through 2028-29 season
Her father, Bill Frese, died during the next season. The values he instilled in his daughter carry on. She embraces becoming a role model, relies on that Midwestern work ethic, employs the power of positivity, and that's what so many women and girls see.
"I love the fact that you can model to women out there that you can do it all. I think also, though, it takes a village. I'm not here by myself," Frese said.
