Cedarville University Women's Basketball Yellow Jackets
Kathy Freese

Kathy Freese steps down
CEDARVILLE, Ohio (1-22-2001) -- Kathy Freese, head women's basketball coach at Cedarville University for the past ten years, has announced she will resign her post following the season. She is the winningest coach in Lady Jacket basketball history with 140 victories and her tenure is the longest in the program's 39 years.

"I thank God for the opportunity to serve Him these past ten years at Cedarville and to work with the wonderful young women who have played during that time, "Freese said. " I look forward to how He wants me to serve Him in the years to come whether at Cedarville or elsewhere."

Freese, who serves as the women's basketball chair for the American Mideast Conference and is the national chair for the NCCAA, was selected the NCCAA Midwest Region Coach of the Year in 1994 after leading Cedarville to their only region title. She was tabbed the Mid-Ohio Conference Coach of the Year in 1995 upon guiding the Jackets to a 20-11 record which was only the second 20-win season in school history.

Freese has taken three of her squads to the NCCAA National Tournament. Her 1993 team set a school record with a 13-game winning streak and she has coached nine All-Americans along with 21 All-America Scholar-Athletes.

"We are grateful for the dedication and contribution that Kathy has made not only in women's basketball, but also to the mission of Cedarville University," stated Pete Reese, athletic director. "She has been an excellent Christian role model to our young women and has demonstrated herself to be a leader among coaches at the conference and national levels. She has been an asset to our department in many ways."

Freese has yet to decide on her future intentions. However, she will complete the school year as an assistant professor in the department of Exercise and Sport Science.

Prior to coming to Cedarville in 1991, Freese spent 20 years at Perrysburg Junior and Senior High Schools in Perrysburg, Ohio. Her girls' volleyball and basketball teams won nearly 75 percent of their contests under her leadership.