Born: July 12, 1944
Biography:
Chris Weller (born July 12, 1944) is a former University of Maryland, College Park women’s basketball coach who led the Lady Terps for 27 seasons from 1975 until 2002. Weller was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010.
Education:
Weller attended the University of Maryland in the 1960s, graduating in 1966. During her time as a student, she participated in basketball, swimming, and lacrosse. She was a four-year varsity letterwinner in basketball. After graduation, Weller taught and coached at John F. Kennedy High School in Silver Spring, Maryland. In 1973, she returned to the University of Maryland to earn her master’s degree and, at the same time, became an assistant under her predecessor, Dottie McKnight. In 1975, while Weller was still an assistant, the team won their second state championship.
Career:
Weller became the Terps’ head coach in 1975 and served as the University of Maryland’s first Assistant Athletic Director for Women from 1975 until 1980. During her tenure, the Terps’ record was 499-286 (.636). Her teams attained many notable achievements, including eight ACC championships, two NCAA Final 4 appearances, and one AIAW Final Four appearance. In 1978, Weller led the Terps in winning the first-ever women’s basketball ACC tournament championship.
Many of Weller’s players have gone on to experience personal success as well. Her teams produced five Olympians, three Kodak All-Americans, 28 athletes who have participated on national teams, and several players who were active in professional basketball.
In 2002, Weller retired as head coach and was replaced by the current women’s basketball coach, Brenda Frese. Outside of her Maryland coaching career, Weller was also an assistant coach for the U.S. National Jones Cup Team in 1985 and the head coach of the U.S. Select Team in 1986, 1992, and 1994. She is an advocate for the growth of women’s basketball in Maryland and promoted the formation of the Maryland Coaches’ Association. Weller has also served as the chairperson of the WBCA Legislative Committee and the committee chairperson of EAIAW Basketball. She was also a member of the Kodak All-American Committee and the U.S. Olympic Committee.
USA Basketball:
Weller was selected as an assistant coach of the team representing the US in 1985 at the William Jones Cup competition in Taipei, Taiwan. The team opened with a lopsided 92–18 victory over the Philippines, then faced Sweden in the second game. The game was close in the first half, and the half ended with the game tied at 31 points each. The USA pulled out to a six-point lead early in the second half but Sweden responded by scoring thirteen consecutive points to take a lead they would not relinquish.
Awards:
– Inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010.