South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley, right, and Fred Chmiel communicate with players during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Georgia Sunday, March 7, 2021, during the Southeastern Conference tournament final in Greenville, S.C. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford)
Fred Chmiel, one of the architects of a South Carolina team that has advanced to the Final Four in each of the last three seasons, is the new head women’s basketball coach at Bowling Green State University, Director of Athletics and Recreation Derek van der Merwe announced today.
Chmiel is the 10th head coach in Falcon women’s basketball history. Chmiel comes to BGSU after spending the last eight seasons on head coach Dawn Staley’s staff at South Carolina. During that time, the Gamecocks posted an overall record of 247-32 and a Southeastern Conference mark of 116-12.
“Fred Chimel is the perfect person for Bowling Green,” Staley said. “I have had the privilege of coaching with Fred both at Temple and South Carolina and his contributions have proven to be invaluable.
“He is a student of the game who will continue the success of the Falcons. Fred is results oriented and will be an ambassador for the University in the community.
“He is an outstanding floor coach and relentless recruiter. With Fred at the helm of the Falcons program he will create an infectious culture that will create a home court advantage at the Stroh Center every night.”
Ray Tanner, director of athletics at South Carolina, added, “Coach Chimel will be a great addition to Bowling Green State University. He will positively affect the lives of student-athletes on and off the court and his program will embrace the campus community. The success of Falcon basketball will continue under Coach Chimel’s leadership.”
After going 35-2 and winning the national championship in 2021-22, the Gamecocks went 36-1 and advanced to the Final Four in 2023.
South Carolina has won two national titles during Chmiel’s tenure, reaching the Sweet 16 in all seven seasons the NCAA Tournament was held in that time.
“When looking for qualified head coach candidates, you look at individuals who have been around great mentors, teachers, and leaders,” said 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.
“He coached his coach, Dawn Staley, in the WNBA. He has patiently waited for his opportunity. It is time for him to be a part of the championship culture we are building at Bowling Green State University.”
BGSU President Rodney K. Rogers said, “Bowling Green State University is so pleased to welcome Fred Chmiel as our head coach of women’s basketball,”
“He comes to BGSU from one of the top women’s basketball programs in the country, with multiple NCAA Championships and Final Four appearances. In addition to his high-caliber, championship coaching experience, Coach Chmiel brings an established record in the development and support of student-athletes.
“I want to thank Derek van der Merwe, director of athletics, and Stacy Kosciak, deputy athletics director, for their leadership of this national search. We look forward to joining our students, faculty, staff, alumni and community in continuing to build on the momentum of our women’s basketball program at the Stroh later this year.”
The Gamecocks won the SEC regular-season title in five of Chmiel’s eight seasons, finishing second or tied for second in the conference in each of the other three years. South Carolina won six SEC Tournament titles in those eight seasons.
The 2022-23 team set a program record for wins in a season, with 36-straight victories on the way to the Final Four.
“My family and I are so thankful and excited for the opportunity to join the Bowling Green community,” said Chmiel. “I am grateful to President Rogers, Derek van der Merwe and Stacy Kosciak for the tremendous opportunity to lead this program. We look forward to continued success and reaching new heights here at BGSU.”
South Carolina’s work on the glass in 2022-23 was the best in program history, as the Gamecocks set season records for total rebounds (1,830 – the second-highest total in SEC history), offensive rebounds (620), defensive boards (1,151), rebounds per game (49.5) and rebounding margin. South Carolina’s +20.4 rebounding margin is the second best in NCAA history.
The Gamecocks set NCAA records with 326 blocked shots and 8.8 blocks per game in the ‘22-23 season.
Chmiel joined the South Carolina staff in June of 2015, marking his third partnership (Temple) with Staley, including one season when he coached Staley in the WNBA.
In 17 seasons as an assistant coach at the college level, Chmiel has been part of 11 conference regular-season titles, seven conference tournament titles, 16 NCAA Tournament appearances, including 10 Sweet 16 berths and two NCAA titles.
His teams have produced 12 WNBA draft picks – and no fewer than four members of the 2022-23 team have been invited to attend the WNBA Draft 2023, which will be held on Monday (April 10). Chmiel’s work on the recruiting trail helped deliver the Gamecocks’ No. 1 signing class in the nation in 2019 and 2021.
Working most closely with the frontcourt in his eight seasons with the Gamecocks, Chmiel’s efforts have helped the team to three perfect 16-0 SEC records (2015-16, 2019-20 and ‘22-23), the 2017 and 2022 National Championships, an SEC-record four-consecutive SEC Tournament crowns (2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018), the program’s first No. 1 final ranking in 2019-20 and its first wire-to-wire No. 1 ranking in 2021-22.
He has worked with five All-SEC forwards, including a pair of SEC and National Players of the Year in A’ja Wilson and Aliyah Boston, who have also combined to win the Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Award in six of its seven years of existence.
Boston recently was named an All-American for the fourth time, and twice was named the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year. She picked up SEC Player-of-the-Year honors in each of the last two seasons and was a four-time SEC Defensive Player of the Year.
Chmiel spent the 2014-15 season at Minnesota where he served as the Golden Gophers’ defensive coordinator while also working with the guards. Despite a season-ending injury to a key member of his group, Chmiel helped the Gophers rank eighth in the nation in assists per game and 26th in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio. He also lent his WNBA experience to center Amanda Zahui B. as she prepared for her future in the league, and she was the number-two pick in the draft.
In a similar role for four seasons at Penn State, Chmiel was part of three straight Big Ten regular-season championship teams and saw the Lady Lions advance to the NCAA Sweet 16 twice in their three tournament appearances.
Two of his guards went on earn All-America status and be drafted into the WNBA, and a third earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Chmiel worked with perimeter players and served as the academic liaison at San Diego State for two seasons, during which the Aztecs won back-to-back Mountain West Conference regular-season titles and the 2010 Mountain West Conference Tournament championship.
In his first season, 2008-09, San Diego State earned its first NCAA Tournament bid in 13 years, and Chmiel mentored another eventual WNBA Draft pick to win MWC Defensive Player of the Year honors in consecutive seasons.
Staley tapped Chmiel for his first women’s college assistant coaching role during her penultimate season at Temple (2006-07), following his lone season as the head coach of the San Jose Spiders in the National Women’s Basketball League (2006).
The two combined to guide the Owls to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances and a share of the 2008 Atlantic 10 regular-season title.
Chmiel first impressed Staley in 2005 when the then-Temple head coach was playing for the WNBA’s Charlotte Sting, for which he was an assistant coach. Chmiel also spent time in the league serving as an advance scout for the Indiana Fever and Detroit Shock.
Chmiel’s coaching career began at Feather River College (Calif.), where he had also begun his college playing career. After one season as an assistant coach for Feather River’s men’s team, Chmiel accepted the head position and led the program for four seasons (1995-99).
He moved on to become the head coach at Lassen College (Calif.) and guided his teams to three Golden Valley Conference titles in his six seasons.
As a player, Chmiel thrived at Feather River, earning first-team All-Golden Valley Conference honors before continuing his career and education at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks.
A graduate of Excelsior College in Albany, N.Y., where he earned his bachelor’s degree in liberal studies, Chmiel went on to earn a master’s degree in coaching and athletics administration from Concordia University in 2022. He and his wife, Julie, have two daughters, Skylar and Ivy.
What they are saying about Chmiel
“Fred is one of the smartest and hardest working coaches I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. He’s competitive, passionate and an excellent developer of talent. I look forward to watching what he and his staff can accomplish.”
– Darius Taylor, General Manager, Connecticut Sun
“Fred is truly an outstanding coach. He excels at player development, is a masterful tactician, and is a flat out winner! Every program he has been a part of has won. He will no doubt bring that winning edge to Bowling Green.”
– Coquese Washington, Head Coach, Rutgers
“Great Hire! Fred has been part of building championship-caliber programs throughout his career. The Bowling Green community is getting an outstanding person and coach. I had the pleasure of working with Fred at Penn State and he is a triple-threat coach: strong in player development, X’s and O’s, and building relationships/recruiting. He will bring energy and excitement to Bowling Green Women’s Basketball.”
– Kia Damon-Olson, Head Coach, Lafayette
“Coach Chmiel was an integral part of my SDSU staff that culminated with a run to the Sweet Sixteen. Fred’s X and O and player development strengths are exceptional. His ability to rapport and motivate separates him from others. Fred just gets it, and everyone around him feels that. Congratulations Bowling Green, you got yourself a game changer.”
– Beth Burns, Associate Head Coach, USC
“I am so excited for Fred to have an opportunity to become the head coach at such a traditionally great basketball program. Coach Chmiel is as hard-working as any coach I have known and will bring an intensity and competitive drive to win second to none. His knowledge of the game and ability to teach and communicate with his players are traits that will ensure that the Bowling Green women’s program will continue to be one of the most well-respected programs in the nation. Fans are going to love the disruptive pressure defense and high-octane early offense systems that he will bring to the program. What a great hire Bowling Green has made! You not only brought in a fantastic basketball coach, but Fred is just a really good person that will be well liked by all in the Bowling Green family.”
– Gary Kloppenburg, Assistant Coach, Indiana Fever
