Mary Frances Kretschmar coached junior and senior high girls basketball for more than 20 years, mentoring one of the early cohorts of female athletes in Northwest Arkansas. Her impact on hundreds of lives is felt to this day.

Following graduation from the University of Arkansas in 1971, she began her career in Lincoln where she coached for 10 years. In 1982, she became an assistant girls basketball coach at Fayetteville High School, and was quickly promoted to the head coach position. In addition, she serves as coordinator for Title IX, drug testing, and the NCAA Clearinghouse. She finished her career serving as assistant athletic director at FHS from 1997-2008.

Mary Frances was KURM Girls Coach of the Year in 1984, 1991, 1992, 1993, and 1994. She was an assistant coach for the Arkansas High School Coaches Association All-Star games in 1992 and 1994. She was names AHSCA Outstanding Girls Basketball Coach of the Year in 1994, received the organization’s Distinguished Service Award in 2005, and was named tot eh AHSCA Hall of Fame in 2008.

Mary Frances led the Bulldogs to back-to back state championships in 1993 and 1994. The eight overtime game in 1994 set a national record. She also led her team to the state finals in 1984.

She in the founding president of the Fayetteville High School Athletics Hall of Greats Board of Directors. Her commitment and vision to this volunteer effort has resulted in $25,000 in scholarships awarded to senior FHS athletes in just three years.