Maryland Coach Transforms Personal Tragedy into Hope Against Cancer

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Brenda Frese, the head coach of the University of Maryland‘s women’s basketball team, faced an emotional battle during March Madness in 2021 when she revealed that her father, Bill Frese, was fighting prostate cancer that had metastasized to his bones. “We had 89 wonderful years with my dad,” Frese said at that time. “We were not ready to let him go.” With her father as her biggest supporter, he attended her childhood games and watched nearly every Maryland game she coached. One of her fondest memories was during the 2020 Big Ten Tournament, when he celebrated by cutting down the nets after a victory. Unfortunately, the family lost Bill Frese on January 16, 2022.

Cancer has touched Brenda Frese’s family before, but her story also includes a survivor. Her son, Tyler Thomas, was diagnosed at age two with childhood leukemia, setting off a tumultuous journey that prioritized hospital visits and medical treatments over coaching practices. Throughout this challenge, Frese exhibited resilience and positivity, embodying hope as she fought for her son’s health.

“There are no words to describe the pain of learning your child has cancer,” Frese said. Yet, she maintained an unwavering belief in Tyler’s ability to overcome the disease—a sentiment that likely brought some comfort in the darker days. Her husband, Mark Thomas, shared this burden, but the personal stakes were much higher than any loss on the basketball court.

In December 2013, the family finally received the news they had long awaited: Tyler was declared in remission after completing his final round of chemotherapy. Now, at 17, Tyler, alongside his twin brother Markus, is fully engaged in high school and basketball, possibly mirroring the affection for the sport inherited from their mother.

Reflecting on their journey, Frese shared in a 2024 Instagram post, “Tyler beat cancer in 2015. We truly take each day as a precious gift as we move forward & will never take a day for granted.” While the memories of loss are evident, the Frese family embraces the lessons of resilience and gratitude fostered from Tyler’s victory.

For Brenda Frese, cancer is not just a theme in her family’s narrative; it has become a personal mission. In 2016, she combined her coaching role with a commitment to cancer awareness by joining the Play4TheCure initiative, a fundraising platform for the National Foundation for Cancer Research. “There are so many great reasons to play and support this game, and fighting cancer is at the top of the list,” she stated. “Our own experience with our son opened our eyes to this critical cause.”

Frese and her team have continuously sought to raise funds and awareness through their platform. During the final game of the 2016 season, they utilized the occasion to engage the community, encouraging donations and support for families fighting cancer. Frese’s dedication to this cause underscores the belief that the fight isn’t over until every family receives their happy ending.

As Brenda Frese continues her coaching career, she looks toward a future where the struggles of her past, including the losses and victories of her family, serve as a strong foundation for transforming lives both on and off the court.