UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. May 5, 2004 ?? Former Lady Lion All-American Susan Robinson-Fruchtl has been hired as assistant basketball coach for the Penn State women??s basketball team effective June 1. Robinson-Fruchtl rejoins the Lady Lions after serving as an assistant from 1993 to 1998, and will work primarily with the post players as well as assist in recruiting.
"It??s going to be a challenge," Robinson-Fruchtl said, "but at the same time, I??m excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. From when I first stepped on campus my heart has always been here in State College, and to come back and again be a part of that tradition is something very special."
"I??m just thrilled that she is coming back," said 24-year Lady Lion Head Coach Rene Portland. "She??s done a great job of keeping in touch with the program, and she knows the goals that we need to accomplish. Her desire to come back to Penn State was evident, and I couldn??t be more pleased with her decision to return."
After leaving the Lady Lions in 1998, Robinson-Fruchtl enrolled at Slippery Rock University to pursue her Master??s Degree in Secondary Guidance. While attending the university, she was a volunteer assistant from 1998-2000 for North Allegheny High School, when former Lady Lion Jess Brungo played there. In May of 2000 she took over as the head girl??s basketball coach Beaver Area High School, where she also worked as the school??s guidance counselor. She helped revive the struggling basketball program, and led the Lady Cats to the PIAA Class AAA Playoffs each of the last two years. Robinson-Fruchtl also has a Master??s in Higher Education which she received from Penn State in 1998.
Then known as Susan Robinson, she graduated from Penn State with a degree in exercise and sports science in 1992, and was married to Tony Fruchtl in 1997. Penn State??s only Wade Trophy winner, Robinson-Fruchtl is one of only two players in the program??s history to accumulate 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in a career. In 1992, the same season she won the Wade Trophy, she was named a consensus All-American and earned GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-American honors. She was a factor from when she first put on the Lady Lion uniform, winning Atlantic 10 Freshman of the Year honors in 1989. Twice she was named to the All-Atlantic 10 Conference team, and in 1991, she was chosen as the conference Player of the Year. In 1990 Robinson-Fruchtl was a member of the Junior National Team, and also played for the U.S. Select team that toured Italy and Czechoslovakia. Following her collegiate career, she played professionally in Japan for one year.