PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Susan Robinson Fruchtl, a 1999 Slippery Rock University master of education in secondary guidance and counseling graduate, was named Monday as the Head Women's Basketball Coach at Providence College.
Robinson Fruchtl previously served five seasons as head coach at St. Francis University in Loretto, Pa., where she guided the Red Flash to three consecutive Northeast Conference championship games, two conference titles and two trips to the NCAA Division I tournament (2010 and 2011).
She garnered Northeast Conference Coach of the Year honors at the completion of the 2011 campaign after leading St. Francis to a 22-11 overall record and a 14-4 mark in the NEC. That same year, the Red Flash won the NEC regular-season title and the tournament title. The team's 22 victories in 2011 tied for third-most in program history.
During Robinson Fruchtl's tenure, a member of the Red Flash earned All-NEC honors six times and two others were selected to the NEC All-Rookie Team.
Prior to being named as head coach at St. Francis, Robinson Fruchtl spent eight seasons (1993098, 2004-07) as an assistant coach at Penn State University. The 1992 PSU graduate helped guide the Nittany Lions to a 161-83 record (.660) during her eight seasons, including four, 20-win seasons.
A consensus All-American and Academic All-America selection in 1992, she is Penn State's only recipient of the Wade Trophy, which is presented annually to the best women's college basketball player in NCAA Division I. Robinson Fruchtl is also one of only two players in Penn State history to accumulate 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds and was the program's all-time leading scorer with 2,253 points until her record was broken in 2004.
The Center Point, W. Va., native served as captain of the 1990-91 PSU squad that compiled a 29-2 record and a No. 1 national ranking in the final AP poll of the regular season.
In 1990, Robinson Fruchtl was a member of the Junior National Team, and also played for the U.S. Select team that toured Europe. Following her collegiate career she played professionally for one season in Japan.
Robinson Fruchtl earned an undergraduate degree in exercise and sports science and later added a master's in higher education from PSU, addition to her master's degree from SRU.
While enrolled in graduate school at SRU, Robinson Fruchtl served as a volunteer assistant for the North Allegheny High School girls basketball team. She also served as head girls' basketball coach at Beaver Area High School, where she also worked as a guidance counselor. She helped revive the basketball program, and led the Cats to the PIAA Class AAA Playoffs in each of her final two seasons.
