After 33 years as a head coach, Theresa Grentz has certainly made her mark nationally in women's basketball. Whether it's coaching the United States Olympic team or winning the national championship, when there's a job to be done, the Grentz name has been synonymous with success.
Developing a winner at Illinois
Illinois women's basketball reached new heights after the hiring of Grentz on May 15, 1995. Grentz committed herself to making Illinois nationally renowned for its dual commitment to athletic success and academic excellence. Prior to her arrival, the Illini had not reached the post-season in eight years. In 12 seasons under Grentz, the Orange and Blue have advanced to the post-season 10 of the last 11 yaers.
The 10th-winningest women's basketball coach in NCAA history with 671 career wins, Grentz led the Illini to a program-best 24-8 mark in 1996-97, and has an overall mark of 210-156 and a Big Ten record of 101-91 in her 12 seasons in Champaign. Her success at Illinois earned her back-to-back Big Ten Coach of the Year and WBCA District Coach of the Year honors in 1997 and '98.
“YOU ARE GOING TO BE CHAMPIONS!” Coach Grentz has a reputation for getting the most from her players. Through the years she has coached seven All-Americans, including Sue Wicks, who earned back-to-back National Player of the Year awards in 1987 and '88. "Coach Grentz made us believe we could do things we didn't believe we could," said All-American Ashley Berggren. Dubbed one of the top motivators in the game, Coach Grentz has a respect few can match from players even after graduation.
Champion in the Community
In March of 2007 Grentz was awarded the Carol Eckman Award by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). The Eckman Award is presented annually to an active WBCA coach who exemplifies Eckman's spirit, integrity and character through sportsmanship, commitment to the student-athlete, honesty, ethical behavior, courage and dedication to purpose.
She has made over 1,000 public appearances in her 12 years at Illinois. From the beginning of her career she has set out to let her message be heard; speaking to Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis, whoever would listen
Grentz is a regular on local radio stations, and for the 11th year in a row hosted her own television show – “The Theresa Grentz Show”. Theresa Grentz is a frequent keynote speaker for corporations including State Farm Insurance, Ameritech, and National City Bank.
Throughout the state of Illinois and across the country, Grentz is actively involved in community activities, charity functions and youth clinics. She has teamed with the men's program to form one of the most successful Coaches vs. Cancer initiatives in the nation.
Success throughout the years
On Sept. 10, 1990, Grentz received the coaching profession's ultimate honor when she was named head coach of the 1992 U.S. Olympic team and lead the red, white, and blue to a bronze medal! This “Spokeswoman for Woman’s Basketball” has succeeded in many levels of the sport. Vowing to “unite women’s basketball into one voice,” Theresa Grentz accepted her nomination as the president of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) in 1999 where she presided over the largest convention in the organization’s history for two years.
Before her great success on and off the court as a coach, Grentz was a top athlete in her sport. A native of Glenolden, PA., Theresa shone for Cardinal O’Hara High School scoring over 1,200 points with three league titles. Before she was inducted into her high school hall of fame she went on to capture three AIAW National Championships as a three time “All-American” at the tiny private Catholic institute of Immaculata College. Grentz was named the 1974 AMF Collegiate Player of the Year, Scored over 1,000 career points, played before the first ever television audience of women’s basketball, and had her No. 12 Jersey retired.
Theresa Grentz went on to coach at St. Joseph’s College guiding the Hawks to two winning seasons, including an 18-3 mark in 1975-76. Grentz was hired at Rutgers, becoming the first full-time women's basketball head coach in the nation and turned the Rutgers program into a national power. During 19 seasons at Rutgers (1976-95), Grentz's teams compiled an outstanding record of 434-150 (.743), including nine consecutive NCAA tournament appearances from 1986-94.
As a result of her success Grentz has won a multitude of awards. A 1992 inductee into the NIKE Hall of Fame, Grentz guided the Lady Knights to a 30-3 record in 1986-87 to earn the Converse National Coach of the Year award. She also has been named the March of Dimes Coach of the Year (1990-91), the Metropolitan Women's Basketball Association Coach of the Year (1992-93) and the Newark Star Ledger Coach of the Year (1985-86). In addition, Grentz has twice been named the Kodak District II Coach of the Year and was honored four times as the Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year.
As a dynamic leader, Theresa Grentz’s teams have proven her effectiveness with 3 NCAA “sweet 16” appearances, a Big Ten Championship, and an AIAW National Championship among many other titles. In 1999, The Delaware County Times named her the Female Athlete of the Millennium in Delaware County. She was inducted into the NIKE Hall of Fame in 1991 and Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001. |
