History of Brenda Frese in Timeline

Brenda Frese is the head coach of the University of Maryland women's basketball team since 2002. She led the Terrapins to the 2006 National Championship. Maryland won the 2009 ACC Regular Season and Tournament Championships under her leadership. They also won another ACC Championship in 2012 and reached the Final Four in 2014. After Maryland moved to the Big Ten, Frese guided them to an undefeated conference record and a Big Ten Regular Season Championship in 2015, followed by another Final Four appearance that same year. Frese has been recognized as AP National Coach of the Year twice (2002, 2021) along with multiple conference Coach of the Year awards and has coached numerous players to Player and Freshmen of the Year awards.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

April 30, 1970: Brenda Frese Born

On April 30, 1970, Brenda Sue Frese was born. She later became an accomplished women's basketball head coach and former player.

Others born on this day/year

1984: Conference Play Success

In 2015, the Terrapins were the first team to go undefeated in conference play since Purdue went 16–0 in 1998–99 and Ohio State went 18–0 in 1984–85.

1986: All-State and All-Metro Player

From 1986 to 1988, Brenda Frese was an all-state and all-metro basketball player.

1988: Iowa State Champion

In 1988, Brenda Frese was an Honorable Mention All-American and Iowa state champion in basketball.

1989: Selected for Pac-10 Tour

In 1989, Brenda Frese was selected for a Pac-10 tour of West Germany while at the University of Arizona.

1989: Last ACC Championship

In 1989, Brenda Frese won the ACC Regular Season and Tournament Championships, which was the women's first ACC Championship since 1989.

1993: Graduation from University of Arizona

In 1993, Brenda Frese graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Arts in communications.

1994: Assistant Coach at Kent State and Iowa State

In 1994, Brenda Frese's career officially started as an assistant coach at Kent State and Iowa State before spending three years as head coach at Ball State and Minnesota.

1995: Master's Degree from Kent State University

In 1995, Brenda Frese graduated from Kent State University with a master's degree in Athletic Administration.

1998: Marriage to Steven Oldfield

In 1998, Brenda Frese married Steven Oldfield and was known as Brenda Oldfield at the time.

1998: Conference Play Success

In 2015, the Terrapins were the first team to go undefeated in conference play since Purdue went 16–0 in 1998–99 and Ohio State went 18–0 in 1984–85.

2000: MAC Coach of the Year

In 2000, Brenda Frese was named MAC Coach of the Year.

2001: Coaching at Minnesota

During her 2001–02 season at Minnesota, Brenda Frese led a one-year turnaround of 8–20 to 22–8, one of the biggest in NCAA history.

2002: Arrival at Maryland

In 2002, Brenda Frese arrived at Maryland prior to the 2002–03 season and brought a remarkable recruiting acumen.

2002: Hired as Head Coach, AP National Coach of the Year

In 2002, Brenda Frese became the head coach of the University of Maryland women's basketball team and was named AP National Coach of the Year and Big Ten Coach of the Year. At the time, Maryland defeated Indiana for the Men's NCAA Basketball Championship. She also was awarded the USBWA Coach of the Year award in 2002.

2002: Divorce from Steven Oldfield

In 2002, Brenda Frese divorced Steven Oldfield.

2002: USBWA Coach of the Year

In 2002, Brenda Frese was awarded the US Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) Coach of the Year award.

2005: Marriage to Mark Thomas

In 2005, Brenda Frese married Mark Thomas.

October 2006: Book Release

In October 2006, Brenda Frese and writer Chris King released "Overtime Is Our Time", a book chronicling the Terrapins' rise to their 2006 championship win.

Overtime: Is Our Time! The Inside Story of the Maryland Terps' 2006 National Championship

Check it on Amazon

2006: NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament Win

During the 2006 season, Brenda Frese coached Maryland's Terrapins to a 34–4 record. The team finished the season by winning the 2006 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament.

2006: Preseason Ranking and Season Performance

Entering the 2006–07 season, the Terp women were ranked #1 in major preseason polls, a first for the program. However, they did not perform as well as in their championship year.

2006: National Championship

In 2006, Brenda Frese guided Maryland to a National Championship.

2007: Pregnancy with Twins

In the 2007 offseason, Brenda Frese learned she was pregnant with twins.

2007: Maryland Ranked Among the Nation's Top Five Teams

Maryland spent much of the 2007–08 season ranked among the nation's top five teams and finished the season 33–4. The Terps advanced to the NCAA's Elite Eight, where they lost an entertaining, high-scoring affair to Stanford, 98–87.

February 17, 2008: Birth of Twin Sons

On February 17, 2008, Brenda Frese gave birth to twin boys, Markus William Thomas and Tyler Joseph Thomas. On that same day, Maryland won on the road at Duke, 76–69.

2008: ACC Regular Season and Tournament championships

In 2008–09, after losing five seniors and dropping the season opener at Texas Christian University, Frese was able to coach the team to both the ACC Regular Season and Tournament championships, as well as an NCAA Elite Eight appearance and 31–5 record.

2009: ACC Regular Season and Tournament Championships

In 2009, Brenda Frese won the ACC Regular Season and Tournament Championships, which was the women's first ACC Championship since 1989.

September 28, 2010: Son's Leukemia Diagnosis

On September 28, 2010, Brenda Frese's youngest son was diagnosed with leukemia (ALL).

2010: Season Without Seniors

In 2010–11, Maryland bounced back from a year's absence from the NCAA Tournament with a fourth-place finish in the ACC regular season. The team had no seniors on its roster.

2012: Won Another ACC Championship

In 2012, Brenda Frese won another ACC Championship and reached another Final Four in 2014.

2012: Sister Became Head Coach

In 2012, Brenda Frese's sister, Marsha Frese, became head coach at UMKC.

2013: ACC Coach of the Year

In 2013, Brenda Frese was named ACC Coach of the Year.

2014: Joined the Big Ten

After joining the Big Ten in 2014, Frese's Terrapins have had historical success in the league.

2014: Reached Another Final Four

In 2014, Brenda Frese reached another Final Four. Maryland also moved to the Big Ten for the 2014–15 season.

2015: Frese Named Big Ten Coach of the Year

In 2015, Brenda Frese and her staff led the Terrapins to an unprecedented level of success in their first year in the Big Ten. Frese was named Big Ten Coach of the Year for the second time in her career.

2015: Big Ten Regular Season Championship and Final Four

In 2015, Brenda Frese led the Terrapins to an undefeated 18-0 conference record and a Big Ten Regular Season Championship in their first year in the Big Ten. The Terrapins advanced to their second straight Final Four and third under Frese.

2015: Successful Season and Elite Eight Appearance

In 2022–23, the Terps surpassed expectations, winning 28 games, including wins over No. 6 UConn, at No. 7 Notre Dame and over No. 7 Iowa. They finished second in the Big Ten and advanced to the program's first Elite Eight since 2015.

2019: Lost Starters

After losing five starters from the 2019–20 Big Ten Championship squad, Frese and her staff reloaded with five newcomers and the return of five sophomores.

2019: Big Ten Coach of the Year

In 2019, Brenda Frese was voted Big Ten Coach of the Year.

2020: Another Big Ten Title and Coach of the Year Honors

In 2020–21, Frese's Terrapins earned a record of 26–3 overall, 17–1 in league play and winning the program's sixth Big Ten title in seven years. She was named Big Ten Coach of the Year and National Coach of the Year by the AP, The Athletic and ESPN.