Joe Frager is not a typical basketball coach. He is thoughtful, soft-spoken and could pass for an average dad. No one would compare him to Bobby Knight or even Ed Cooley.
Not only that, he played baseball in college at UConn, then moved on to coach a women’s high school basketball team – not exactly the best way to become Division I head basketball coach.
Despite his former experience, he has close to 400 head coaching victories.
He began as the head women’s coach at Seymour High School in Connecticut, where he posted a 208-58 record in 11 seasons while winning three state championships.
Frager then moved on to Southern Connecticut State University for nine years with a 189-93 record, culminating in the Division II National Championship last season.
He was named the D-II National Coach of the Year for his efforts in 2007.
After the season, Fairfield offered Frager the opportunity to replace 28-year Head Coach Dianne Nolan and her 500-plus wins. He jumped at the opportunity.
“Everyone has made [the transition] very smooth,” said Frager. “Everyone is helpful and accommodating in doing everything we’ve asked. But coaching is coaching [no matter at what division].”
So far, Frager has been earning rave reviews from his players.
“He’s an awesome coach,” said senior guard Sabra Wrice. “He’s very structured.”
Frager is coming into a situation with a core group of players already in place, and that should help him adjust in his first season.
“Coach Nolan recruited good people on and off the court,” said Frager. “I’m not trying to reinvent the wheel.”
He does not plan on changing much, as there will still be an emphasis on defense, but now the Stags will likely focus more attention on the half-court offense.
“I like teams that are blue-collar, teams that play together to get their maximum potential,” he said.
While the Stags have only just begun practice, they are already noticing differences between Frager and Nolan.
“It’s different and hard at first,” said Wrice. “But when you go over the same thing over and over, it makes you remember.”
The biggest challenge Frager faces deals with one of his strengths.
He now has to recruit players to a mid-major school but should be up to the challenge as he was named Division II’s Best Recruiter in the 2006-2007 season by his fellow coaches.
“It trickles down [at Fairfield],” said Frager. “The SEC, the Big East – they get the cream of the crop.
“We strive to get as talented players as we can, but we have to cover all of our bases. It is a matter of finding a niche regionally,” he said.
Frager is also expanding that niche. He plans on recruiting more internationally, looking at players in Europe and Africa, in hopes of bringing the best talent to Fairfield.
However, Frager also realizes there is more to coaching than just guiding his team on the court.
He said that he is in charge of young women and must, therefore, act as a surrogate parent at times.
Frager also said that integrating the core values of a Jesuit education into his program are important.
Mark Reed, vice president of student affairs, introduced Frager as the new coach last spring.
“Whether he’s realized it or not, Joe Frager has incorporated the Jesuit ideal of living and learning into the development of his team,” Reed said at a press conference.
Both on and off the court, Frager is providing new leadership for the Stags, trying to take them to new heights.
“As a coach, you’ve got to be prepared to be a jack of all trades,” Frager said.
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