Wednesday April 18, 2007 started a new chapter in the history of
Fairfield University women’s basketball when Joe Frager was
named the program’s fifth head coach.
Frager takes over the helm of the Stags after a nine-year stint as
the head coach at Southern Connecticut State University. He
led the Owls to postseason play in each of those years, and to the
NCAA Tournament in the last three, and four of the last five,
seasons. Frager’s squads posted wins in each of those
NCAA Tournament appearances, with the most successful run coming in
2007. The Owls won the Division II National Title that
season, posting a school-record 34 wins in the process.
Frager brings plenty of experience with him as a head coach, with
20-years worth on his resume, and close to 400 victories. He
posted a 189-83 record in nine years at SCSU, and was 208-58 in 11
seasons as the head girl’s basketball coach at Seymour (CT)
High School.
Accolades have come Frager’s way during his head coaching
tenure. During the 2007 National Championship run he earned
the Molton/Women’s D-II Bulletin National Coach of the Year
award, as well as winning his third consecutive Northeast 10
Conference Coach of the Year award. He was named the WBCA
Region I Coach of the Year in 2005 and 2006, while at Southern.
Frager took over at SCSU in 1999, winning 18 games, and earning New
England Collegiate Conference Co-Coach of the Year accolades.
Four years later Frager made his first NCAA Tournament appearance
and first NCAA victory. After a year’s hiatus from the
NCAA Tournament, SCSU returned in 2005, again earning a postseason
win, and earning Frager his first Northeast 10 Coach of the Year
award. SCSU finished that season ranked number 21 in the
nation.
The 2006 squad set an SCSU record with 29 wins, and again picked up
a victory in the NCAA Tournament. Frager earned his second
Northeast 10 Coach of the Year honor, and for the first time won
both the regular season and tournament title, finishing the season
ranked 14 in the nation.
Defense wins championships, and Frager coached teams excel
defensively. His SCSU squads in 2004 and 2006 led the nation
in scoring defense. The 2007 National Championship team
ranked fourth nationally, allowing foes to score only 49.7 points
per game.
Frager began his coaching career at Seymour in 1987. Over the
11 seasons at the helm of Seymour, Frager’s charges captured
208 wins. Three of those victories gave them CIAC State
Championships, winning the crown in 1993, 1997 and 1998.
A native of Shelton, Conn., Frager earned a Bachelor’s Degree
in Political Science from the University of Connecticut in
1984. In 1994 he earned a Master’s Degree in Social
Sciences from SCSU.
Frager, and his wife Shirley, reside in Southbury, Conn., with
their sons, Brendan (12), and Kevin (9).
