Former Dartmouth Athletics Director Dick Jaeger Passes Away
9/28/2022 1:55:00 PM | Athletics
A member of the Class of 1959, Jaeger worked at the college for nearly four decades
HANOVER, N.H. — Richard G. "Dick" Jaeger, who served as the fifth director of athletics and recreation at Dartmouth College from 1989-2002, passed away last night at the age of 85.
Jaeger was hired as the Big Green athletics director in 1989 after spending 25 years in the Dartmouth admissions office. Dartmouth enjoyed some of its greatest success on the field with Jaeger at the helm, winning 46 Ivy League Championships in his 13 years in the position. Big Green student-athletes competed for NCAA Championships across 18 different sports over his term as well: women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's diving, men's and women's golf, women's hockey, women's lacrosse, women's rowing, skiing, men's tennis, and men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field.
Participation in NCAA events weren't the only successes for Dartmouth Athletics during Jaeger's tenure. The Big Green also competed in national events for sailing, equestrian, men's rowing, and men's and women's squash. In addition, the football team enjoyed an unbeaten streak of 22 consecutive games in the mid-'90s, including the last perfect season in program history (10-0 in 1996).
When Jaeger announced his impending retirement before the 2001-02 school year, former Dartmouth President James Wright had this to say: "For 25 years in admissions he sought out and brought the best and brightest students to Dartmouth. For the past 12 years in athletics, he has worked to improve and maintain the quality of the experience those students enjoy. The college is immeasurably stronger as a result of his efforts."
A 1959 graduate of Dartmouth, Jaeger earned a master's degree in the teaching of English from Columbia in 1960. He taught at high schools in White Plains, New York, and Hanover before joining the Dartmouth admissions office in 1964. He was named associate director of admissions in 1973 and director in 1982. His responsibilities over the years included directing the overall operation of the office, handling personnel administration for admissions officers and clerical staff, and serving as liaison with the Dartmouth College Athletic Council in its effort to recruit athletes and hire coaches.
Jaeger also worked tirelessly to improve the athletic experience for the Big Green student-athletes. Under his watch, he oversaw the beginning of a facilities improvement initiative that included the construction of the Alexis Boss Tennis Center, Scully-Fahey Field and Blackman practice fields, along with a complete renovation of Leverone Field House.
A celebration of Jaeger's life will be held at The Church of Christ at Dartmouth College on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 2 p.m. A reception will follow at the Top of the Hop in the Hopkins Center.
Jaeger was hired as the Big Green athletics director in 1989 after spending 25 years in the Dartmouth admissions office. Dartmouth enjoyed some of its greatest success on the field with Jaeger at the helm, winning 46 Ivy League Championships in his 13 years in the position. Big Green student-athletes competed for NCAA Championships across 18 different sports over his term as well: women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's diving, men's and women's golf, women's hockey, women's lacrosse, women's rowing, skiing, men's tennis, and men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field.
Participation in NCAA events weren't the only successes for Dartmouth Athletics during Jaeger's tenure. The Big Green also competed in national events for sailing, equestrian, men's rowing, and men's and women's squash. In addition, the football team enjoyed an unbeaten streak of 22 consecutive games in the mid-'90s, including the last perfect season in program history (10-0 in 1996).
When Jaeger announced his impending retirement before the 2001-02 school year, former Dartmouth President James Wright had this to say: "For 25 years in admissions he sought out and brought the best and brightest students to Dartmouth. For the past 12 years in athletics, he has worked to improve and maintain the quality of the experience those students enjoy. The college is immeasurably stronger as a result of his efforts."
A 1959 graduate of Dartmouth, Jaeger earned a master's degree in the teaching of English from Columbia in 1960. He taught at high schools in White Plains, New York, and Hanover before joining the Dartmouth admissions office in 1964. He was named associate director of admissions in 1973 and director in 1982. His responsibilities over the years included directing the overall operation of the office, handling personnel administration for admissions officers and clerical staff, and serving as liaison with the Dartmouth College Athletic Council in its effort to recruit athletes and hire coaches.
Jaeger also worked tirelessly to improve the athletic experience for the Big Green student-athletes. Under his watch, he oversaw the beginning of a facilities improvement initiative that included the construction of the Alexis Boss Tennis Center, Scully-Fahey Field and Blackman practice fields, along with a complete renovation of Leverone Field House.
A celebration of Jaeger's life will be held at The Church of Christ at Dartmouth College on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 2 p.m. A reception will follow at the Top of the Hop in the Hopkins Center.
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