Mike Whalen ’83, who had been the head football coach at Williams since 2004, was officially introduced as Wesleyan’s new head coach at a news conference yesterday afternoon in Freeman:
Whalen went 38-10 in six seasons at Williams, including an 8-0 mark in 2006 and three straight 6-2 seasons after that. He went 6-0 against Wesleyan (which has beaten Williams just twice since 1986–28-14 in 1997 and 33-28 in 1999, both at home) and 4-2 against Amherst, winning four straight Little Three titles from 2005-08.
Also, for those of you keeping score at home, we have now snagged three Williams head coaches in the past year. Perhaps it’s time to replace the cardinal in the masthead with a cartoonish purple cow.
See the full press release announcing Whalen’s hiring here.
14 Comments
who were the other two Williams coaches that Wes snagged?
What I wonder is, how is it that we’re getting them? Are we actually managing to draw Williams coaches away, or are they already being replaced by someone better?
(/unnecessary skepticism. what I mean to say is, congrats bro)
@1: Pat Tynan, our new women’s crew coach, served as interim head coach at Williams a couple of years ago (and won the national championship that year). Dan DiCenzo, who was Williams’ head wrestling coach (and football
defensive coordinatordefensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator), is coming to Wes with Coach Whalen as D-coordinator.what’s going to happen to Doug Mandigo (def. coordinator) and the other assistant coaches?
@Anonymous #4: No one really knows…it all depends on who the new coach decides to keep on staff. Generally, a new head coach means an entirely new group of assistants as well, but we’re hopeful those who haven’t already found new jobs will be retained….
this looks sweet, especially with all the complaints i’ve heard about the old coach. does this mean we’re gonna start winning games now?
sure looks like it. if Whalen can recruit half as well as he did at Williams, I’d say Wes will be having 6-2 seasons in a couple of years (apparently not having a coach lined up really hurt this year’s incoming recruit class, but next year will have kickass freshmen)… it’ll be a long rebuilding process, but it’ll happen
We’ll be 5-3 at worst next season, lack of a freshman class notwithstanding. Don’t underestimate the effect of having a coach who actually knows how to (1) call plays and (2) have the team ready to play every Saturday. There’s no way Whalen would’ve left Williams if Wes didn’t give him a favorable situation with Admissions…much like men’s basketball, expect them to bring in a stacked freshman class next year (fall 2011, not this fall) and really start making some noise the year after that.
looks like Williams is in full alert mode, trying to stop DiCenzo from leaving:
http://www.ephblog.com/2010/03/10/urgent-support-coach-dan-dicenzo/
@9: Interesting find. I had heard he (DiCenzo) was definitely coming to Wes. Bill Barrale (Williams’ offensive coordinator and head baseball coach) was briefly listed on the Williams website as interim head football coach immediately after Whalen’s departure; I’ve heard his name is in the discussion, but then they’d likely need to find a new baseball coach. All of the three internal potential heirs apparent–DiCenzo, Barrale, and George McCormack (D-coordinator and linebackers coach)–are current head coaches of another team (wrestling, baseball, and men’s lacrosse, respectively), and I’ve also heard rumors (nothing more) that they may be targeting a current NESCAC head coach, so either way, this may set off a chain reaction of sorts. And if I’m Williams, I do this sooner rather than later so two spring head coaches don’t have this hanging over their heads all season…
who gives a shit
@11: Apparently lots of people, given the comments here, in the shoutbox, on the ACB, etc. As you may have noticed, this happens to be a blog about all things Wesleyan, not simply those that interest you.
Ben: 1
Commenter 11: 0
Having played with Dicenzo at Williams, I’m biased. That said, Wesleyan literally hit the jackpot with the Whalen/Dicenzo combo. Your school has been pathetic for years and these two coaches will have them at the top of the NESCAC in four years.
Listen to me, it’s already happened.
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