Rene Portland facts for kids
Portland speaking at a pep rally in 2007
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| Biographical details | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | March 31, 1953 Broomall, Pennsylvania |
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| Died | July 22, 2018 (aged 65) Tannersville, Pennsylvania |
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| Playing career | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1972–1975 | Immaculata | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1976–1978 | Saint Joseph's | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1978–1980 | Colorado | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1980–2007 | Penn State | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Head coaching record | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Overall | 693–265 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accomplishments and honors | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Championships | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| As player: 3× National champion (1973–1975) As coach: NCAA Regional—Final Four (2000) |
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Medal record
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Maureen Theresa Muth "Rene" Portland (March 31, 1953 – July 22, 2018) was a famous American basketball coach. She was best known for coaching the Penn State Lady Lions women's team for 27 years. During her time, her teams made 21 appearances in the NCAA tournament. This included reaching the Final Four in 2000.
Her teams also won five Big Ten Conference championships. They earned eight conference tournament titles, with the first six in the Atlantic 10. Rene Portland was one of the few women's basketball coaches to win over 600 games at a single school. Her record at Penn State was an amazing 606 wins and 236 losses.
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Coaching Career Highlights
Rene Portland was born and grew up in Broomall, Pennsylvania. Before becoming a coach, she was a star player at Immaculata College. This college was one of the first strong teams in women's college basketball. Portland helped her team win three national titles. Many of her teammates also became well-known women's coaches.
Portland started as head coach at Penn State in 1980. Before that, she coached for two seasons at St. Joseph's. She also coached for two seasons at the University of Colorado. She coached the Lady Lions for 27 seasons. She won over 600 games at Penn State. This made her sixth in most wins for a Division I women’s basketball coach.
Even though she led many teams to the NCAA tournament, she never won a national championship as a coach. Portland also cared about helping others. She took part in the first "Think Pink" day. This event raised money for breast cancer research. She resigned from her coaching role on March 22, 2007. Later, Coquese Washington became her successor.
USA Basketball Coaching
Rene Portland also coached for the United States national basketball teams.
FIBA Junior World Championship
In 1993, Portland was an assistant coach for the US team at the FIBA Junior World Championship. This event took place in Seoul, South Korea. The US team finished seventh overall.
In 1997, Portland became the head coach for the US team in the Junior World Championship. This tournament was held in Natal, Brazil. The US team won their first game against Japan. They later faced Australia, who were the defending champions. The US team had a 13-point lead but lost the game. However, they bounced back and won against Cuba, Russia, and Spain.
They reached the semi-finals and beat Slovakia. This led them to their first-ever finals for a FIBA Junior World team. In the final, they played Australia again. The US team won a very close game 78–74 in overtime. This victory earned the US its first gold medal in this championship.
World University Games
Portland was also the head coach for the US team at the 1999 World University Games. This event was held in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. The US team easily won their first two games. One game was a huge win against South Africa, with a score of 140–32.
They lost to Ukraine but still made it to the medal rounds. They defeated Lithuania in the quarterfinals. Then, they beat undefeated Russia in a close game, 87–79. This set up the championship game against host Spain. The US team kept the game close but Spain won the gold medal. The US team proudly received the silver medal.
Later Life and Passing
Rene Portland passed away on July 22, 2018. She was 65 years old. She died in Tannersville, Pennsylvania after a three-year battle with peritoneal cancer.
Awards and Honors
Rene Portland received many awards and honors throughout her career:
- 2005 Penn State Renaissance Fund's Person of the Year
- 2004 WBCA Russell Athletic National Coach of the Year
- 2004 Big Ten Coach of the Year (Coaches and Media)
- 2003 Big Ten Coach of the Year (Coaches and Media)
- 2003 Naismith National Coach of the Year Finalist
- 2001 Inductee of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame
- 2002 Inductee of the Mount Nittany Society
- 2000 Women’s Basketball Journal Nat’l Coach of the Year
- 2000 IKON/WBCA District 6 Coach of the Year
- 2000 Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year
- 2000 Naismith National Coach of the Year Finalist
- 1997 USA Basketball's Developmental Coach of the Year
- 1995 Naismith National Coach of the Year Finalist
- 1994 Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year
- 1993 Newspaper Enterprise Association National Coach of the Year
- 1992 Converse/U.S. Basketball Writers Association National Coach of the Year
- 1991 WBCA National Coach of the Year
- 1989-90 Women's Basketball Coaches Association President
- 1983 Atlantic 10 Conference Coach of the Year
See also
- List of college women's basketball coaches with 600 wins
