University of Minnesota Athletics
OLDFIELD NAMED AS NEW WOMEN'S HEAD BASKETBALL COACH
6/29/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
oBrenda Oldfield, formerly the head coach at Ball State University, has been named as the sixth coach in the 28-year history of University of Minnesota women's basketball, Women's Athletics Director Chris Voelz announced on June 8.
Oldfield signed a five-year contract with a base salary of $130,000. The contract includes a $10,000 media supplement and additional performance-based incentives. At the age of 31, Oldfield is currently the youngest head coach in the Big Ten Conference.
"We're excited to bring in a coach who is committed to the values of this University and has a record of success as a head coach and recruiter," said University Vice President and Chief of Staff Tonya Moten Brown.
"This coach will make a difference! Brenda, in time, will be the coach who turned the program around, kept Minnesotans at home and brought great pride and class to every aspect of our Gopher women's basketball program," said Voelz. "I am thrilled to name her and have the ultimate of confidences in her to take great care of our program."
Oldfield spent the two last years as the head coach at Ball State in Muncie, Ind. During her tenure, she turned around a program that had a record of 66-169 in the nine years prior to her arrival, to records of 16-13 in 1999-2000 and a school-best 19-9 a year ago for just the second back-to-back winning seasons in school history. Her 2000-01 squad received votes in the Associated Press top-25 poll during the season and ranked as high as 28th during one point in the season. Ball State went 10-2 on their home court and established a single-season home attendance record.
After accepting the Ball State position for her first head coaching position, Oldfield began her Ball State career in grand style. She captured her first coaching victory on Nov. 20,1999, ironically defeating Minnesota in the Sports Pavilion by a score of 79-70 in the Gophers' season-opening tournament. After capturing the school's first win over a Big Ten opponent, the Cardinals won the title the next day defeating Fresno State. Oldfield capped her rookie season by being named the 2000 Mid-American Coach of the Year.
"I am excited about the opportunity to be the new head women's coach," said Oldfield. "I look forward to keeping players at home in the great state of Minnesota, as well as other Midwest talent. I welcome, with great passion and commitment, the challenges that lie ahead of rebuilding the program into something we all deserve."
A Cedar Rapids, Iowa native, Oldfield spent four seasons as an assistant coach at Iowa State University. As the Cyclones recruiting coordinator, she helped Iowa State to a fourth-straight winning season with a 25-8 overall record and a third-straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 1999. Iowa State upset No. 1 seed Connecticut, 64-58, before falling one game shy of advancing to the Final Four with an 89-71 loss to Georgia in the NCAA Midwest Regional final.
During her four years at Iowa State, the Cyclones compiled an 84-38 record and broke the single-season attendance record on numerous occasions (including the record crowd of 12,337 that watched ISU defeat Santa Clara in the first round of the NCAA Tournament). Her 1998-99 recruiting class was ranked among the top 10 in the nation.
Prior to Iowa State, Oldfield spent two years as an assistant coach at Kent State, where she helped the Golden Flashes to a 17-10 mark in 1994 and 20-8 record in 1993.
Oldfield replaces Cheryl Littlejohn, who compiled a 29-81 record in four years with the program. Minnesota finished the 2000-01 season with a 10-18 overall record, 1-15 and 10th in the Big Ten standings. The Golden Gophers will welcome back 11 letterwinners, 10 with starting experience.
Oldfield signed a five-year contract with a base salary of $130,000. The contract includes a $10,000 media supplement and additional performance-based incentives. At the age of 31, Oldfield is currently the youngest head coach in the Big Ten Conference.
"We're excited to bring in a coach who is committed to the values of this University and has a record of success as a head coach and recruiter," said University Vice President and Chief of Staff Tonya Moten Brown.
"This coach will make a difference! Brenda, in time, will be the coach who turned the program around, kept Minnesotans at home and brought great pride and class to every aspect of our Gopher women's basketball program," said Voelz. "I am thrilled to name her and have the ultimate of confidences in her to take great care of our program."
Oldfield spent the two last years as the head coach at Ball State in Muncie, Ind. During her tenure, she turned around a program that had a record of 66-169 in the nine years prior to her arrival, to records of 16-13 in 1999-2000 and a school-best 19-9 a year ago for just the second back-to-back winning seasons in school history. Her 2000-01 squad received votes in the Associated Press top-25 poll during the season and ranked as high as 28th during one point in the season. Ball State went 10-2 on their home court and established a single-season home attendance record.
After accepting the Ball State position for her first head coaching position, Oldfield began her Ball State career in grand style. She captured her first coaching victory on Nov. 20,1999, ironically defeating Minnesota in the Sports Pavilion by a score of 79-70 in the Gophers' season-opening tournament. After capturing the school's first win over a Big Ten opponent, the Cardinals won the title the next day defeating Fresno State. Oldfield capped her rookie season by being named the 2000 Mid-American Coach of the Year.
"I am excited about the opportunity to be the new head women's coach," said Oldfield. "I look forward to keeping players at home in the great state of Minnesota, as well as other Midwest talent. I welcome, with great passion and commitment, the challenges that lie ahead of rebuilding the program into something we all deserve."
A Cedar Rapids, Iowa native, Oldfield spent four seasons as an assistant coach at Iowa State University. As the Cyclones recruiting coordinator, she helped Iowa State to a fourth-straight winning season with a 25-8 overall record and a third-straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 1999. Iowa State upset No. 1 seed Connecticut, 64-58, before falling one game shy of advancing to the Final Four with an 89-71 loss to Georgia in the NCAA Midwest Regional final.
During her four years at Iowa State, the Cyclones compiled an 84-38 record and broke the single-season attendance record on numerous occasions (including the record crowd of 12,337 that watched ISU defeat Santa Clara in the first round of the NCAA Tournament). Her 1998-99 recruiting class was ranked among the top 10 in the nation.
Prior to Iowa State, Oldfield spent two years as an assistant coach at Kent State, where she helped the Golden Flashes to a 17-10 mark in 1994 and 20-8 record in 1993.
Oldfield was a four-year letterwinner and a three-year starter at the University of Arizona, where she led the Wildcats in scoring and rebounding her sophomore and junior seasons. She was selected to the Pac-10 All-Star team that toured West Germany during the summer of 1990. After injuries sidelined her as a senior, Oldfield spent her final year at Arizona as an assistant coach Pima Community College in Tucson, where she was responsible for recruiting, scouting and coordinating practices and games.
Oldfield, who earned her bachelor's degree in communications from Arizona in 1993 and her master's degree in athletic administration from Kent State in 1995, was married to Steve Oldfield in June of 1998.Oldfield replaces Cheryl Littlejohn, who compiled a 29-81 record in four years with the program. Minnesota finished the 2000-01 season with a 10-18 overall record, 1-15 and 10th in the Big Ten standings. The Golden Gophers will welcome back 11 letterwinners, 10 with starting experience.
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