Sports
Rick Snider » Motherhood brings a different, yet unchanged, Frese to the floor
By: Rick Snider
Examiner Sports Columnist
November 9, 2008
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| Twin sons Markus, left, and Tyler have taught Maryland coach Brenda Frese the balance of work and home in a professional that lends itself to moving from one job to the next. (Photo courtesy of the Frese family) |
It doesn’t matter how long they’re been somewhere or how many wins they’ve managed. The wanderlust always beckons.
Brenda Frese moved three times in four years when coming to Maryland in 2002. She was the next big name for a program replacing its own legend — Chris Weller. Frese was 2002 national coach of the year in her only season at Minnesota following three years at Ball State.
Maryland has proven the perfect fit for Frese, though. She won a national championship in her fifth season. The recruiting classes have been rated nearly as high. The Terrapins are ranked third this season as the remaining two starters of the title team — Kristi Toliver and Marissa Coleman — are seniors.
But this season has Frese also realizing Maryland is her long-term home. The Iowa native married a Laurel resident in 2006. She delivered twin sons in March amid the madness of reaching the Elite Eight. The in-laws have been crucial in surviving eight months of sleepless nights before Markus and Tyler finally learned nighttime is for sleeping.
The wanderlust of coaching has yielded to motherhood and nesting.
“Where else would I want to go?” Frese said.
Players say Frese was somewhat changed by motherhood as Maryland opens the season at Texas-Christian on Friday. A little more understanding. Frese agrees. That drive to win is strong, but it’s not quite as absolute in her demands of players.
“She’s the same Brenda — just a mother,” guard Sa’de Wiley-Gatewood said.
Perhaps the most trying time of her pregnancy — aside from bursting into tears during a press conference on senior night last March just days before giving birth — wasn’t missing road games. It was not being around the team every day. The first break from basketball since her youth didn’t feel right.
“I just appreciate every day that I get now after having it taken away from me last year,” Frese said, “not being able to travel and being able to coach the way I wanted to on the floor. I never expected to lose that fire.”
Frese returned to the bench by the NCAA Tournament when Maryland’s hopes for a second national title fell three wins short. She was recruiting soon afterwards. Now Frese is 45 pounds lighter and on the team planes again.
But motherhood and coaching won’t always work smoothly. Halloween was spent with a recruit. A holiday tournament in Cancun, Mexico during Thanksgiving will be another holiday apart. Fears of problems with the water for her youngsters and a taxing family plane trip during the offseason taught her flying and babies don’t always mix.
Meanwhile, expect no tender loving consideration of other teams. No mercy from Mother Frese. The Terps are loaded. They’ll contend once more for the national crown.
After all, the Terps don’t want to make mama mad.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at rsnider@dcexaminer.com.
