Latest news with #BrendaFrese
CBS News
23-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
New Maryland athletic director Jim Smith is ready to focus on increasing revenue
Maryland's new athletic director certainly understands the job description in 2025. "We're going to focus on revenue, because make no mistake about it, to compete with the caliber of schools, not just in the Big Ten but across the country, we must increase our revenues," Jim Smith said while being formally introduced Thursday. "We're going to be trying a few new things — I'm not going to tell anyone any of them today — taking new approaches, applying what I've learned from professional leagues." Maryland hired Smith last week, wrapping up a fairly turbulent couple months for the athletic department. In March, athletic director Damon Evans left for SMU, and around the same time, men's basketball coach Kevin Willard departed to take the Villanova job. The Terps quickly hired Buzz Williams away from Texas A&M to replace Willard. Smith arrives from baseball's Atlanta Braves, where he was the senior vice president of business strategy. He's also been president and CEO of the Ohio State University Alumni Association, and he's held senior executive positions at Arthur M. Blank Sports & Entertainment, in charge of revenue and marketing for the NFL's Atlanta Falcons and Major League Soccer's Atlanta United. "I think you can see his vision is next level, outside the box," Maryland women's basketball coach Brenda Frese said. "It's a unique hire that in these changing times I think is much warrented." Smith's challenge is to help Maryland compete — both on the field and in the athletic department's coffers — with schools like Michigan and Ohio State. He said when he started with the Falcons they were near the bottom of the NFL in revenue. "If you're committed and you're focused to the goals, you will achieve. That's what we slowly did in Atlanta," Smith said. "There's no silver bullets from going towards the bottom of the Big Ten to the top of the Big Ten, from a revenue (standpoint). But there's a lot of opportunity here." As college sports enter a new era expected to involve revenue sharing with players, the ability to bring in money can feel like an existential issue. "I think if you were to say four years ago, this job is different and I'm not the candidate," Smith said. "I think it's just evolved to the point today where it requires someone who understands how a campus operates and can bring in different experience on how to generate additional revenue." Maryland has won national titles in both men's and women's basketball in the last quarter-century, and the men's lacrosse team is playing in the Final Four this weekend. But football — and even basketball at times — have struggled to compete for fan attention in an area with plenty of pro teams. "We're going to focus on filling SECU Stadium and Xfinity Center with Terp fans, and we're going to give the best fan experience in the country," Smith said. Willard complained openly about the level of support he received from the athletic department before he left, and coach Mike Locksley's football team finished 4-8 last season — although he has local quarterback recruit Malik Washington now. "Coach Locks and I have talked a lot about where we are as a program. I think he feels really good with the recruits that we've brought in," Smith said. "Part of it is our responsibility, to make sure that he's got the funding that's necessary to compete at the level with the other Big Ten programs."
Washington Post
25-03-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
It was crazy. It was fun. And, wow, the Terps are still dancing.
The conversations around Xfinity Center, after the Maryland women took their turn transforming College Park into the center of college basketball, sounded similar. They were voiced in short declarations, probably because everyone still needed to catch their breath after fourth-seeded Maryland's frantic 111-108 double-overtime win over fifth-seeded Alabama. A Terrapins team staffer in a white jacket didn't break stride as she headed up the lower-bowl staircase, telling another woman, 'That was crazy!' An arena worker walking toward the tunnel told someone nearby, 'That was fun!' And when Brenda Frese — a veteran coach who has seen it all, has won a national title and does nothing but lead her Terps to the NCAA tournament's Sweet 16 year after year — had adjusted the microphone on the postgame dais, her first comments summed up the sentiment for the 5,052 fans in the building Monday night.
Washington Post
25-03-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Maryland overcomes 45 points by Alabama's Barker, beats Crimson Tide 111-108 in 2 OTs
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — It's a line that dates back about two decades, to Maryland's 2006 run to the national title. 'Overtime is our time,' coach Brenda Frese said. The Terrapins pulled off another extra-period escape Monday, outlasting Alabama 111-108 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Sarah Te-Biasu made a tying 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter, then scored eight of her 26 points in the second OT to help fourth-seeded Maryland advance to the Sweet 16.
Washington Post
25-03-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
After a double dose of drama, Maryland advances to the Sweet 16
Chaos reigned inside Xfinity Center on Monday night. Maryland Coach Brenda Frese waved her arms in desperation. Alabama guard Sarah Ashlee Barker set a school record, pouring in 45 points. Maryland guard Sarah Te-Biasu buried three-pointer after three-pointer. The fans didn't sit for what seemed like an eternity. With 1.8 seconds left in the second overtime and Maryland holding a three-point lead, the building rocked as 'Swag Surfin'' blared from the speakers. A steal by Te-Biasu sent the Terrapins into a frenzy as the buzzer sounded — and propelled Maryland to the NCAA women's basketball tournament's Sweet 16 with a 111-108 victory over Alabama, which had led by 17 points in the second half.
CBS News
21-03-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Terps secure 15th straight appearance in NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament
Maryland women's basketball is the 4-seed in the upcoming NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament. It's the Terps' 15th straight trip to the tournament, and this year they won't have to travel far. College Park will host the first and second rounds of the tournament this season, after missing out on the opportunity to host last year. The Terps are 53-30 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, and 41-18 under Head Coach Brenda Frese, having led Maryland to 21 post-season appearances in her 23 years leading the program. Maryland will open up the tournament against 13-seed Norfolk State on Saturday, Mar. 22 at 4pm from the Xfinity Center.
