Penn State news by
Penn State's student blog

Topics

More

Longtime Lady Lions Coach Rene Portland Dies Of Cancer

Rene Portland, who brought Penn State women’s basketball to national prominence during her 27-year coaching tenure, passed away Sunday at age 65 after battling cancer for three years. 

Portland coached the Lady Lions from 1980 to 2007, recording a 606-236 record to become the ninth coach in NCAA Division I history to record 600 wins at one school. She’s the sixth winningest Division I coach of all time, a four-time Big Ten Coach of the Year, and a two-time WBCA National Coach of the Year.

Before beginning her coaching career, Portland won three national championships as a player with Immaculata College. She then spent two years each as head coach at Saint Joseph’s and Colorado before she was hired at Penn State.

Penn State women’s basketball earned seven conference championships, eight conference tournament titles, and numerous NCAA tournament appearances in the Atlantic 10 and Big Ten conferences with Portland at the helm.

Despite her many accolades on the court, Portland will be remembered for her alleged “no lesbian” team policy, which was the subject of a lawsuit from a former player filed against Portland and the university in 2005. An internal investigation at the time led to a fine and a one-game suspension for Portland, though she disputed the findings.

Portland resigned a few weeks after the lawsuit was settled in 2007. She had two years left on her contract with Penn State.

Many of those Portland worked with over the years still remember her fondly, including a handful of former players and colleagues who spoke to Philly.com.

“She taught us to play for something bigger than ourselves,” former first-team all-American Susan Robinson Fruchtl said. “She taught us to play for each other, to represent those who have impacted our lives, and to play for Penn State.”

Portland is survived by her husband, four children, and seven grandchildren. Funeral arrangements will be held in Broomall, PA.

Your ad blocker is on.

Please choose an option below.

Sign up for our e-mail newsletter:
OR
Support quality journalism:
Purchase a Subscription!

About the Author

Elissa Hill

Elissa was the managing editor of Onward State from 2017-2019. She is from Punxsutawney, PA [insert corny Bill Murray joke here] and considers herself an expert on all things ice cream. Follow her on Twitter (@ElissaKHill) for more corny jokes.

Hungry Dogs Run Faster: Matt Brown’s Senior Column

“Thank you for everything, Blog.”

James Franklin Traverses Maryland To Celebrate Olu Fashanu & Chop Robinson On NFL Draft Night

Fashanu and Robinson’s selections mark Franklin’s 22nd and 23rd first-round products.

Penn State History Lesson: The 2008 Mifflin Streak Lawsuits

Due to precedent set in 2008, participants of the annual naked run cannot be arrested for public indecency or lewdness.

Follow on Another Platform
113kFollowers
164kFollowers
59.7kFollowers
4,570Subscribers
Other posts by Elissa

2020 Blue-White Game To Kick Off April 18

More details will be announced following the 2019 season, but the game is usually scheduled for a mid-afternoon kickoff and aired live on BTN.

Penn State Football Announces First Five Kickoff Times For 2019 Season

Behring, Barlow, Engeman, & Marshall Secure Democratic Nominations For State College Borough Council