The Maryland women?s basketball season may have ended prematurely a little more than a month ago, but that hasn?t meant any less work for Terps coach Brenda Frese.
Frese has had a very busy “offseason” that included hiring two new assistant coaches, as she is trying to get Maryland back in the national title picture after watching Mississippi upset her team in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
“Change is always going to happen,” Frese said. “It?s how you handle it that?s important, and I feel like we?ve made two great hires.”
The most recent hire came Tuesday when veteran coach Diane Richardson joined Frese?s staff to take theposition vacated by Joanna Bernabei. Richardson, an assistant at American University last year and head coach at Riverdale Baptist [Upper Marlboro] before that, provides Frese with a coach with local roots that should help lure even more area talent to College Park.
“Diane will be a tremendous asset to our staff,” Frese said. “She has a great knowledge for the game, and someone with her vast connections in the area can only help the program that much more.”
Richardson?s hire comes less than a week after former Utah assistant Daron Park came aboard. He replaces Jeff Walz, who left Maryland after five years to become the head coach at the University of Louisville.
Frese likes Park?s energy and was impressed with the job he did as an assistant under longtime Utes coach Elaine Elliott, which included nearly beating Maryland in the Elite Eight of the 2006 NCAA tournament.
“Daron is an up-and-coming star in this sport,” Frese said. “He?s young, energetic and knows a lot about game preparation. He has all the traits you are looking for in an assistant.”
With her staff nearly in place, Frese is ready to put the end of last season behind her. She is excited about Maryland?s future that includes the arrival this fall of Parade and McDonald?s All-Americans Drey Mingo and Marah Strickland (Towson Catholic). Frese also knows she can go out and recruit with even more confidence after recently signing a six-year contract that should keep her on the Maryland bench at least through 2013.
“It?s great when you get the support from the athletic department,” Frese said. “Anytime you can tell a recruit that you will be there as long as they are and beyond only helps with attracting players to the school. Maryland is where I want to be, and I?m so appreciative for the opportunity I have gotten at College Park.”
MARYLAND NOTES
» Incoming Maryland freshmen Drey Mingo and Marah Strickland (Towson Catholic) were among 37 women?s basketball players invited to the USA Basketball under-19 team trials. They will compete May 17-20 in Colorado Springs, Colo., for a roster spot on the U-19 world championship team. The 12-member roster will compete in the 2007 FIBA U-19 World Championship from July 26 to Aug. 5 in Bratislava, Slovakia.
