University of Minnesota Athletics
Brenda Oldfield Named Associated Press Coach of the Year
3/28/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Oldfield, also the 2002 Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year, guided the Golden Gophers to a 22-8 record in her first season at Minnesota. The Gophers posted one of the biggest turnaround seasons in the NCAA this year, going from a 8-20 mark in 2000-01 to marching into the NCAA Tournament this season. Minnesota, ranked No. 18, in the last AP poll of the season, finished tied for second in the Big Ten with an 11-5 mark and defeated Nevada-Las Vegas in the NCAA Tournament's opening round before seeing their dream season end with a second-round loss at North Carolina. The Gophers' final tally of 22-8 goes down in Minnesota history as the best record during the NCAA era.
At the age of 31, Oldfield was hired in June and became the youngest head coach in the Big Ten. Her Gopher squad embraced the new coaching regime and posted the best season start in school history, winning nine of their first 10 games. On January 21, Minnesota climbed into the AP national poll at the No. 23 spot, claiming a top-25 ranking for the first time in 19 years. The Gophers were ranked in the AP top 25 in each of the season's final eight weeks, including a school-best No. 14 ranking on Feb. 18.
The emergence of the Gophers in 2001-02 also sparked a huge fan following. Minnesota averaged a record 4,360 fans per game to rank 19th in the nation in attendance. The Gophers moved to Williams Arena midway through the season after a pipe burst in the Sports Pavilion. After the move, the Gophers averaged 8,828 fans per game, including the top four crowds in school history and a record attendance of 12,142 in the season finale versus Michigan State.
