South Carolina assistant Fred Chmiel named new women’s basketball head coach
April 8, 2023
Bowling Green State University named South Carolina assistant coach Fred Chmiel as the new head coach of the women’s basketball team, replacing Robyn Fralik who took the top job at Michigan State University.
Chmiel will be formally introduced as the 10th head coach in school history at a press conference on Monday at 11 a.m.
He served the past eight seasons as an assistant to Dawn Staley, a stretch that saw the Gamecocks post an overall record of 247-32, win the national championship after the 2022 season and advance to the Final Four this year after a 36-1 season. South Carolina won two national titles during Chmiel’s time there and they reached the Sweet 16 each season the NCAA Tournament was held.
“When looking for qualified head coach candidates, you look at individuals who have been around great mentors, teachers, and leaders,” said Director of Athletics and Recreation Derek van der Merwe. “You look at people who have had powerful and transformational experiences. Fred Chmiel has served and learned from the best coaches and student-athletes. He has had a long career in women’s basketball and has been part of 15 NCAA Tournament appearances.”
“My family and I are so thankful and excited for the opportunity to join the Bowling Green community,” said Chmiel.
Chmiel’s career has been intertwined with South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley for some time, first when Chmiel was an assistant on a WNBA Charlotte Sting team that featured Staley as a player. After Staley became the head women’s basketball coach at Temple University, she would hire Chmiel as an assistant prior to the 2006-07 season. His coaching resume also includes stops at San Diego State, Penn State, and Minnesota.
“Fred Chmiel is the perfect person for Bowling Green,” said Staley. “He is a student of the game who will continue the success of the Falcons.”
She also called Chimel “results oriented” and “an outstanding floor coach and relentless recruiter.”
Chmiel takes over for Fralick after an historic season that saw the Falcons reach the Fab Four of the WNIT after a 31-7 season, which tied the school record for most wins. The Falcons won two Mid-American Conference titles during Fralick’s five seasons.
