During Athletics Director Debbie Yow’s 16-year tenure at the University of Maryland, she led the department to significant victories and accomplishments. Under the direction of Dr. Yow, the University of Maryland became one of only three universities in the country to win the National Championships in men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and football—the only two other institutions to earn such a distinction are Stanford University and the University of California, Los Angeles.
Concurrent with Debbie Yow’s administration of the Maryland athletics department, the Terrapins men’s basketball team made their first Final Four appearance (2001) and went on to win the NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship title the following year. The team achieved 11 consecutive NCAA tournament berths from 1994 to 2004.
Debbie Yow’s major contribution to the success of the Maryland women’s basketball program came in the form of hiring head coach Brenda Frese. After Frese joined the Terrapins, the team achieved a 180-60 (.750) record by November 2007; in all, the team has accomplished five consecutive 20-win seasons, four 25-plus win seasons, and six appearances in the NCAA championship tournament. In 2006, the Terrapins took home the NCAA Women’s Basketball National Championship title.
In 2001, while Debbie Yow continued her management of the Maryland athletics department, the Terrapins football team won the 2001 ACC championship title under coach Ralph Friedgen.
The Terrapins also succeeded in other sports during Debbie Yow’s term with the University of Maryland. For example, the men’s soccer team won the 2005 and 2008 College Cups, and the women’s lacrosse team secured eight championship titles between 1994 and 2010. During Dr. Yow’s time with the university, U.S. News & World Report and Sports Illustrated ranked the Maryland athletics program in the nation's top 20.
In June 2010, Debbie Yow concluded her tenure with the University of Maryland in order to accept a position as Director of Athletics at North Carolina State University. In April 2011, Dr. Yow hired former Alabama coach Mark Gottfried as the new head coach for the Wolfpack men’s basketball team.
