If These Walls Could Talk

Hi all! It's been an exciting week for us with our athletes back on campus and officially starting fall preseason workouts! Classes also started yesterday so the players are keeping busy with that. We'll have more on the start of preseason soon, but first a little glimpse into my world off the court ...


If houses could talk, what a tale my small, 2-bedroom cape would tell!

After weathering the storm created by two rambunctious sons, two dogs and one saintly grandmother my old house deserved to be pampered. It should have been stuffed with flowers, Martha Stewart seasonal crafts and fragrant candles. The smell of baked goods should greet every visitor.

But alas such an existence was not in the plans. The departure of the boys opened up a new, unexpected chapter for me and the house. There were coaches, administrators and friends whose lives landed them in Hanover with a job and no place to live. I had room and they were in need. Thus a Dartmouth Athletic commune was established.

Instead of baked goods we have big pots of stew. Flowers would obstruct the view when we all squish together at the table. The smell that greets one when the door is open is a combination of gas fumes from the cars in the driveway and fabric softener from the perpetual use of the dryer. Watching the cars maneuver in and out of the driveway is a spectator sport of which I am an all star. I can get any car out of my driveway at anytime.

No complaints from me though, I know I am lucky. I have had an amazing assortment of people stay with me — coaches, trainers, sports information and administrators have all spent short periods of time at my house en route to college housing. Our prestigious alumnae have gone onto to wonderful careers as doctors, lawyers, educators and titans of industry, yet oddly enough, these remarkable women prefer air mattresses on my floor to hotel rooms. Every time they visit is a wonderful trip down memory lane.

Today, the commune bid farewell to Erin Rewalt. She has waited patiently to get into her college-owned house. I know she is thrilled to have a place of her own, but she will be missed. After all a house is at its best when it is full.

-Coach Wielgus

More to Come This Season

Hi All,

Thanks to our loyal readers for sticking with us through a rather slow summer of blogging! For not having games or athletes on campus, it's amazing how busy the summer can be after all.

I'm really looking forward to this season and to blogging for all of you to read during it! The players are just getting back to campus this week and already working hard on their own. I think and hope they are ready to prove that last season was an anomaly and that Dartmouth will be back atop the Ivy League - where we belong - in no time. No one in the League can match our tradition and our players, veterans and rookies, are preparing to back that up!

Anyhow, just wanted to check in and let you know that the blog will be back in full swing soon. Pass the word along to anyone who might have thought we were through! :)

Hope everyone had a great summer.

Go Big Green!

- Dara

Welcoming the Freshmen

In a few short weeks the "pea Green" first-year students arrive on campus (that's an affectionate term coined by our upperclassmen). Dartmouth women's basketball will welcome four new players to our family. They are a diverse, talented group from all over the country. Point guard Nicola Zimmer is from Maryland, Arianne Hunter is a forward from Oklahoma, swing guard Eve Zelinger is from northern California and forward Janelle Ross is from southern California. These women are excited for the upcoming season and ready for their great Dartmouth adventure to begin and the coaches and veteran players can't wait for their arrival.

There is one more very special first year student joining the class of 2014 (2014 - that is scary sounding!). You cannot call her a rookie, as she knows more about Hanover and Leede Arena then I do. Former Big Green ball girl extraordinaire Kelly Wood is coming all the way from Etna, NH to attend Dartmouth College! Kelly is one of my all-time favorite youngsters and Dartmouth is lucky to have her as part of the family officially. I have a feeling 2014 is going to be a great class.

In a few short weeks I get to welcome them to Dartmouth. A new season will be upon us in no time! I can’t wait!

- Coach Wielgus

The Derby

“AND THEY ARE OFF!!” College coaches from every school in the nation have garnered their school colors and plastered their school names across their chests as they jockey for position in the front row of AAU Tournament games this July. The annual summer basketball derby — or rather the NCAA evaluation period has begun!

I LOVE THIS GAME. And I love watching high school players develop.

However, truth be told, racing from court to court and watching basketball for 12 or more hours a day can wear you out. But the entire process is beyond amusing. As a matter of fact, sometimes it is flat out silly.

All gyms are segregated so the fans and coaches don’t mix. Thank goodness for that. College coaches sit together and this is where the fun begins. It is a virtual who's who in the basketball world. Everyone but Geno and Pat have their school names boldly plastered across their chests. So when walking into the gym no one looks you in the eye — no, it is straight to your chest to see where you coach. The smaller the school is the bigger the lettering. Thus Geno and Pat require no letters at all.

There are 2 types of coaches: the old proverbial show horse coach and the work horse coach. The show horse coach arrives and positions his/herself very strategically. This is not as easy at it may seem. You see these coaches not only have to be seen by AAU players and coaches, but they need to sit next to a “big time” coach who can further their careers. Then they chat. As far as I can tell they never open their tournament books or write anything down - I'm not sure how they pull it off!

Then there are the workhorse coaches with tons of papers, game grids, organizational items from Staples and a backpack full of snacks, as they don’t have time to leave the gym. These coaches open the high-priced books of rosters and actually write in them. That is what I do and most of the coaches in the Ivy League do as well. Sometimes I venture into the gym in my civilian attire. It throws everyone off, as they are not sure if I am a big timer or not. Truth be told it means I have not found a laundromat in that city!

Every day on the road brings many funny stories and as you can tell this Irish lass loves a good story. But enough for now, just arrived in LA and have to catch some night games.

Until next time!

- Coach Wielgus

Double Dip

For the second time this month a Dartmouth women’s basketball alumna has answered the call to return home to Hanover. Koren Schram ’09, Big Green basketball player extraordinaire, has left her professional European playing career to become our Director of Basketball Operations.

Koren is a competitor and a winner (won three Ivy titles and was first team All-Ivy twice!). She knows Dartmouth and what it takes to win. She is enthusiastic, hardworking and quite the character. It is no surprise to anyone who knows Koren that a volcano erupted while she was in Iceland. So watch out Hanover ... she's baaaack.

I am so excited to have two of our basketball family, Erin Rewalt and Koren Schram return to Dartmouth. I can’t wait for the season

Until next time,

Coach Wielgus

Offically a ’79er

Hi all! Hope everyone is having a great summer. My assistant coaches and I have officially hit the recruiting trail and will be spending the month of July searching for the next generation of Dartmouth women's basketball players. Hope to see you along the way.

A wonderful and unexpected thing happened to me the other day. I received a phone call from Jim Wasz President of the Dartmouth Class of 1979. I was sure that Jim was going to give me a heads up on a talented student-athlete from his neighborhood. Instead Jim told me his class would like to adopt me!!! It is a Dartmouth tradition that any class can "adopt" a member of the College community (professor, coach, staff, administration, etc.) that has served the College faithfully but is not an alum his/herself. For a moment, albeit brief moment, I was speechless. Then I enthusiastically accepted my adoption.

I was beyond surprised and humbled by the generosity of this great class. I am now an adopted member of the Class of 1979 ... a ’79er. Thank you, thank you, thank you to my new classmates for this distinct honor.

Coach Wielgus ’79a

P.S. I just got my first Alumni newsletter!

SHE’S BACK!

After a harrowing round of hard fought negotiations between my agent and Erin Rewalt's agent an agreement was finally reach. Erin is BACK!!!

That 6’1 defensive-minded, All-Ivy forward has traveled the halls of Tuck, the corporate labyrinth of GE, and the sidelines of William and Mary on a journey that has landed her back home at Dartmouth.

Erin Rewalt ’99 Tuck’04 has returned to Dartmouth as an Assistant Coach. She is a whirlwind of work and fun. She is competent, quick-witted and grounded with a positive ”can do” attitude. Above all she loves the game and this very special program.

Personally, I am delighted to welcome her home. But I know Erin well and I am fastening my seat belt this adventure just picked up speed.

- Coach Wielgus