COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Brenda Oldfield spent Monday night at home in Minneapolis, watching the Maryland men and coach Gary Williams win the school's first national basketball title.

Voelz remarks disputed

MINNEAPOLIS -- Tonya Moten Brown, the University of Minnesota vice president in charge of athletics, has disputed remarks made by women's athletics director Chris Voelz about departed basketball coach Brenda Oldfield. At a news conference Tuesday, Voelz said Oldfield cited concerns over the local high school talent base as one reason she took the coaching job at Maryland. She said Oldfield made her remarks during a conference call Sunday night with Moten Brown and in front of Voelz and Laurie McLaughlin, a deputy vice president. According to Voelz, Oldfield said her reasons for leaving were weather, facilities and "the talent base in Minnesota could not win a national championship." The comments attributed to Oldfield left some Gophers players angry. Oldfield on Thursday denied making them. "Those three points are not consistent with anything I've ever said since coming to the University of Minnesota," Oldfield said. "People who know me know those are statements I would never make." Moten Brown said Thursday she told Voelz that she did not recall Oldfield making the "talent base" statement. "I don't mind saying that my recollection is a little different," Moten Brown said. "My understanding was that Brenda would weigh a lot of factors -- and that recruiting base and ability to recruit kids to Minnesota would factor into a decision. -- The Associated Press

Two days later, as she was introduced as the Terrapins' new women's coach, Oldfield made it clear: This championship won't be the school's last if she has her way.

"One of coach Williams' players summed it up best when he said anybody who has ever played would love to win a national championship," she said. "That is why I'm here."

Selected The Associated Press Coach of the Year this season, Oldfield leaves Minnesota to take over a Maryland program that was once an NCAA Tournament regular but has struggled recently.

In her first season at Minnesota, she guided a team that won only eight games in the 2000-2001 season to a 22-8 record and its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1994.

Oldfield, 31, said she switched to Maryland for a chance to play in the Atlantic Coast Conference and the new Comcast Center, which opens next season.

She didn't mention the $275,000 base salary she'll receive under her six-year contract. She was paid $130,000 at Minnesota.

Her new contract also includes what Maryland athletic director Deborah Yow called a "significant" buyout clause, which ensures the university will be compensated if Oldfield takes another job before her contract expires.

Oldfield replaces Chris Weller, who retired in March after 27 years and 499 wins. Weller led the Terps to two NCAA Final Four appearances in the 1980s, but the team finished last in the ACC this season at 13-17.