Fairfield’s Frager will retire after this season

Joe Frager, a fixture on the Connecticut women’s basketball scene for more than 30 years, will retire as head coach of Fairfield University at the end of the season.

Frager made the announcement Tuesday, citing health reasons. He is entering his 15th season at Fairfield after coaching Southern Connecticut

and Seymour High.

In 23 years as a college coach, Frager has 429 victories and he led Southern to the 2007 Division II National title. He has won 240 games at Fairfield.

“My decision is based largely on developments with my personal health,” Frager said in a statement. “I care deeply about the players and

coaches in our program and I felt that making this announcement now was in the best interests of our players, staff, and the program moving forward.”

Frager, a 1984 UConn graduate, was inducted into both the New England Basketball Hall of Fame and the Connecticut Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. He began coaching at Seymour in 1987, winning three state titles and 208 games in 11 years.

At Southern, Frager was 189-83 in nine years and he earned national coach of the year in 2007.

In 14 seasons at Fairfield, Frager has a .566 winning percentage. The Stags are 160-96 in the MAAC under Frager.

“For 15 years, Joe Frager has been a model of integrity and commitment at the helm of Fairfield women’s basketball, conducting all aspects of his program in a first class manner,” athletic director Paul Schlickmann said in a statement. “He has built a culture that puts team and family first, sets high expectations for his student-athletes as campus citizens and fosters high achievement for them in

the classroom. Coach Frager has led with compassion and a steady demeanor that belies a fierce competitive spirit.

“The byproduct of his principled approach has been an incredible string of consistent on-court success and countless teams of remarkable young women. We are grateful to Joe for his dedication to Fairfield and Stags Athletics. He has been forthright and selfless in arriving at this difficult decision and we wish him and his wife Shirley continued good health and best wishes in the next phase of their journey together.”

Maggie Vanoni / Hearst Connecticut Media Fairfield coach Joe Frager instructs his players against Marist in the MAAC tournament semifinals this past season.