Frese Counts On Helping Hands

Terrapins Assistant Coaches Are 'Critical' to Program's Success

"I guess I built that philosophy of placing that kind of importance on my assistants back when I was an assistant," Maryland Coach Brenda Frese said. (By Preston Keres -- The Washington Post)

Wander into any Maryland women's basketball practice, and it's hard not to notice how actively involved all the coaches are. Jeff Walz is working on a play with the players. Erica Floyd probably isn't there because she's on the road recruiting. Joanna Bernabei is putting the guards through shooting drills. And of course Brenda Frese is overseeing it all.

Clearly, this is Frese's team. But her assistants actively participate in every aspect of it. They run practices, recruit, put together scouting reports and work with the players on skill development. To figure out how Frese won a national championship at Maryland just four years after taking over the program, one of the first places to look is at her staff.

"Our assistants are critical to the success of our program," said Frese whose second-seeded team begins its national title defense today against No. 15 Harvard in Hartford, Conn. "I guess I built that philosophy of placing that kind of importance on my assistants back when I was an assistant. . . . Just like you learn a lot of great things when you're an assistant going through the ranks, you learn what to do and you learn what you wouldn't want to do. I just felt like I would utilize everyone."

Within some programs, assistants are merely glorified managers. They shag rebounds at practice or keep stats on the bench during games. Frese wants -- and expects -- much more from her staff.

"I always feel like just my set of eyes can't take in everything that's going on out there" during a game, Frese said. "In years past, I would get on them if a timeout [coaching huddle] was silent, if they didn't have anything to say. I would joke, 'Hey guys, thanks for all the info' -- just because I want them to stay active in the game and not be passive. . . . My personality is I can learn from our players at 17-23 [years old]. I can learn from our maintenance guy who sweeps the floor. It's not about my ego."

Whether it's suggesting a defensive switch or an offensive play to run, her assistants appreciate the freedom to express themselves openly.

"I think that's why we're so successful, because you've got more than one person seeing what's going on; you've got different looks," Floyd said. "It's nice to be able to coach with someone who understands and appreciates that we actually have a say and allows us to say it."

In some ways, Frese never left behind her assistant coach mentality. She goes on the road recruiting as much, if not more, than she did when she was an assistant. Because the trips often take her away from the team, she needs people she can rely on when she's away.

"Coach B. brings the best staff in, and she knows she can trust them when it's crunch time," senior guard Shay Doron said. "Coach B. has a million and one things to think about. It helps when you have assistant coaches who can run practice for you when you're out recruiting or whatever it may be. It's just as good as having the head coach there, and she knows that."

Unlike some control-freak coaches, Frese liberally delegates the coaching duties, allowing her to focus on what she needs to do without worrying about what everyone else is doing.

"She is not a micromanager at all," Walz said. "And because of the responsibility that she gives us I think we all want to do so well at it just to show her that she made the right decision in giving us the responsibility. . . . She has the trust and the faith in us to know when she's gone it's still going to run the same."

When she assembled her staff, Frese wanted assistants who could do a lot of things well and specialize in certain areas. Walz has a keen basketball mind. Floyd excels at building relationships with players. Bernabei's bubbly enthusiasm energizes the team.

Frese's staff has remained largely intact since coming to College Park in 2002. Floyd, Walz and director of basketball operations Mark Pearson worked with her at Minnesota. Bernabei replaced Frese's sister, Marsha, in 2003. By keeping this core group together, Frese has developed continuity, an attribute shared by many top programs.

Continuity is important because "you're able to move with greater efficiency through the things that you need to get through, especially in a crazy profession like this where you're going pretty fast," Frese said.

But that continuity may be threatened by the program's recent success. With so many prominent head coaching jobs recently opening up -- Texas, LSU, Florida, Arkansas -- successful assistants are in high demand. Frese fears that her staff may not remain together much longer.

"I hate to even think about that thought," she said. "I think they all have goals of being head coaches, but it would have to be the right situation. . . . The situation here is obviously a phenomenal situation."