University of Georgia Athletics
La'Keshia Frett To Remain As Lady Bulldog Assistant
April 07, 2006 | Women's Basketball
ATHENS, Ga. --- La'Keshia Frett, who joined Andy Landers staff last October, has decided to retire from her playing career in the WNBA in order to remain as an assistant coach with the Lady Bulldogs, Landers announced on Friday.
"When we hired Keshia in the fall we knew there was a decision that was going to have to be made as to whether she would retire from the WNBA and coach at Georgia or return to the WNBA and relinquish her coaching position," Landers said. "We're very happy she's chosen the former and not the latter."
Frett, a two-time All-American and four-time All-SEC performer during her playing career as a Lady Bulldog from 1993-97, has played professionally since graduating, the last seven summers in the WNBA.
"It was definitely a tough decision for me," Frett said. "I've played basketball for so long, and it's been my career for the last eight years. It's hard to walk away from the game, especially when there's nothing forcing you to stop playing. I just felt that the opportunity to come back to Georgia was greater than playing. I'm very thankful for this opportunityand wanted to take advantage of it. I enjoyed coaching and being here more than I ever dreamed I would when I started last fall."
Landers was impressed with his former player's abilities during her first season as an assistant coach.
"Keshia has an excellent rapport with our players," Landers said. "She has a quiet demeanor but she is a very effective communicator. One of her many strengths is her ability to work with players one-on-one in an effort to help them improve. She truly enjoys and is very, very good at that. I'm looking forward to watching her grow even more in her responsibilities in the future."
The 1993 National Player of the Year and a three-time prep All-American at Pheobus High School in Hampton, Va., Frett enjoyed a stellar collegiate career at Georgia. She helped the Lady Bulldogs compile a four-year record of 98-27 including teams which finished as NCAA runner-up in 1996, advanced to the 1995 NCAA Final Four as well and captured SEC Championships in 1996 and 1997.
Among the Lady Bulldogs' career statistical leaders, Frett still ranks No. 6 in scoring (1,980); No 5 in field goals attempted (1,514) and free throws made (361); No. 8 in rebounds (842), field goals made (743) and free throws attempted (463); and No. 9 in blocked shots (85)
Frett was a first-round draft pick of the Richmond Rage of the ABL in 1997 and moved to the WNBA in 1999. Between 1999 and the 2005 seasons, she played for the Los Angeles Sparks (1999-00), the Sacramento Monarchs (2001-03), the Charlotte Sting (2004) and the New York Liberty (2004-05). Six of seven teams Frett played for advanced to the WNBA Play-offs.
In addition, Frett played professionally overseas in Hungary, Spain, Israel and Korea.
