July 31, 2023
Locked On Women’s Basketball: A new Spartan spirit for Robyn Fralick and Michigan State
By The Next
Fralick joined Missy Heidrick to discuss her return to the Great Lakes State and what to expect from the Spartans
Happy Monday! It is time for another episode of the Locked On Women’s Basketball podcast with national correspondent Missy Heidrick and special guest Robyn Fralick, who took the helm at Michigan State in the spring. Fralick, a Michigan native, is entering her ninth year of coaching with stints at Bowling Green and NCAA Division II’s Ashland University.
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Heidrick starts their conversation with Fralick’s decision to move home and coach the Spartans after three MAC regular-season championships and a WNIT Fab 4 appearance with the Falcons in 2022-23.
“For me, it’s not just a job, it’s a life decision,” Fralick said. “Michigan State is a really prestigious university and has a real allure with its basketball between the women’s program’s success and tradition, coupled with the men’s basketball program’s success and Coach [Tom] Izzo and all he’s done here during his time. Then you combine that with the opportunity to be close to all of your family. You know, I just feel really fortunate because in coaching, oftentimes, you don’t get the combination.”
Fralick is just the sixth coach in Michigan State women’s basketball history. She replaces Suzy Merchant who led the Spartans to a 528-306 record in 16 seasons with two Big Ten titles and 10 NCAA Tournament appearances. Now, Fralick takes the reigns after one of the conference’s strongest years.
“If you want to really be challenged at the highest level, this is what it looks like,” Fralick said. “Seven teams in the NCAA Tournament and Iowa in the national championship game? There’s more more coverage than ever and women’s basketball is at a higher level than ever so those things are really exciting. And, we’re at a university where basketball has always had an alluring tradition so being a part of that is really cool.”
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