Fairfield, Conn. – Fairfield University Head Women’s Basketball Coach Joe Frager has signed a new contract to coach the Stags through the 2015-16 season. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
“Joe has shown each of the qualities of a head coach that I look for; qualities that reach far beyond the court, but into the classroom and community,” Director of Athletics Gene Doris said. “He has made great strides in restoring the legacy of our women’s basketball program and has it well on the way to writing new chapters in that story. This contract extension rewards the success and progress of the past three seasons and reaffirms the commitment of Fairfield University to Joe, his family, and the program.”
Frager led the Stags to their second 20-win season in the last three seasons, posting a 20-14 mark. For the first time since 2001 Fairfield played in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championship Game, and advanced to the Women’s Basketball Invitational. Frager and the Stags defeated Towson, 69-55, in Alumni Hall for the program’s first-ever national postseason tournament victory.
“It is a great personal pleasure, and the good fortune of our institution, to have Joe continue at Fairfield,” University President Jeffrey von Arx, S.J. said. “An institution like ours has a strong sense of mission, and from the first time I spoke with Joe, I knew that his passion for the game, and commitment to his student-athletes, made him the right person for the job. He and his wonderful family are great representatives of everything that Fairfield stands for.”
Frager has led Fairfield to 60 victories (60-36) in his first three seasons at the helm, and a winning percentage of 62.5 percent. Under his guidance the Stags have finished among the top-three in the MAAC in each season, and have advanced to at least the tournament semifinal in each of his three years. Fairfield has had three consecutive winning seasons, averaging 20 wins a year under Frager, the most consecutive winning seasons in nearly two decades.
“As I left campus after my initial interview three years ago I knew that I wanted to become a part of the Fairfield University family,” said Frager. “The commitment and devotion that the University has shown to our student-athletes, our program, and my staff since that point, has done nothing but reaffirm the decision to become a Stag. It has been an honor and pleasure to lead the Fairfield women’s basketball program the last three years and I am excited to continue in that role. I relish the opportunity to continue to build this program to a perennial contender for the MAAC title and postseason play. I want to thank Gene Doris, Father von Arx and Mark Reed [vice president for administration and student affairs] for all they have done for my family and me. We greatly appreciate the confidence and commitment that this contract represents.”