Bob Whalen Retires As Winningest Baseball Coach at a Single Institution In Ivy League History

HANOVER, N.H. — After 36 years leading the Dartmouth baseball program, Bob Whalen announced his retirement today. The longest-tenured Division I head coach at the same school, Whalen won two Ivy League Championships and had two NCAA Tournament appearances, leading the Big Green to 11 Ivy League Red Rolfe Division Titles, including eight straight from 2008 to 2015.

"The opportunity to coach at Dartmouth College has been the most meaningful aspect of my professional life. I have been fortunate to spend my entire career at such a world class academic institution that is also committed to athletic excellence" said Whalen.

"I'm grateful to all the players I've had the privilege to coach for their commitment to the program and each other. I'm thankful to the many hard working assistant coaches who have played a significant role in the success of the program and to the Friends of Dartmouth Baseball for their generosity and many levels of friendship and support. Also, thank you to Mike Harrity and his staff for all they do to help the coaches create a highly competitive and life changing experience for all the Dartmouth student-athletes".

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

"Bob Whalen is the consummate Dartmouth Baseball Man. For 36 years he has been a beacon of positivity and hard work, setting a great example for his players. His deep connection with his players, their parents and the Dartmouth baseball alumni has been awesome and one that his fellow NCAA coaches recognized and because of his accomplishments, was elected the first Ivy Baseball coach to be president of the American Baseball Coaches Association Most importantly for me, Bob has been a tremendous friend over the years and I wish him nothing but the best in the next chapter of his life!"

— Brian Conroy '86 Chairman of Friends of Baseball

"Coach Whalen is the winningest coach in the Ivy League for a reason. His ability to maintain a competitive program for decades speaks volumes to his coaching style and commitment to the program, making sure the team is well-positioned to win games right out of the gate. Over the years, I will grow to miss the little things that Coach Whalen included in everyday practice. Whether it be reviewing bunt defense, batted ball situations, or first and third defense, Coach's strong attention to detail gave the program an edge over clubs with better talent. Coach cared deeply about the personal and professional development of his players and had an understanding for Dartmouth's unique academic setup, allowing players the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the Dartmouth experience. I would like to thank Coach Whalen for not only developing me as a student-athlete but as a person, constantly finding opportunities to teach lessons about life and build character. While the program will miss Coach Whalen deeply, his last 35 years as Head Coach have left Dartmouth Baseball primed for immediate success in the future. Considering the state of facilities that Coach Whalen inherited when taking on the Head Coach position at Dartmouth, he has left this program with state-of-the-art facilities, including what is considered one of the nicest collegiate stadiums in the northeast."

— Elliot Krewson '25

"Coach Whalen's impact on my life is immeasurable. Besides the countless lessons he taught our team on the field, his leadership inspired me to be a better man, husband, and father. Without Coach Whalen's guidance, I never would've been drafted, and I wouldn't be the man I am today. Each and every morning I reflect on the tenets he preached- consistency, integrity, character, and resiliency. Coach Whalen is the definition of Dartmouth Baseball, and we're all fortunate to have played for a legend."

— Damon Wright '08

"Congratulations, Coach Whalen, on a remarkable 36 years at Dartmouth. Your record-setting achievements on the field speak for themselves, but your loyalty to the College and to everyone associated with the baseball program is what truly makes you an all-time great. You've been an incredible coach and mentor, and you've also become a great friend. I sincerely appreciate everything you've done for me and wish you and Kim all the best in your retirement."

— Matt Klentak '02

"My teammates and I are beyond grateful to have played for Coach Whalen. He held us to a high standard on and off the field, and he pushed us to exceed what we thought we were capable of as student-athletes. He was the driving force behind our strong team culture and strived for nothing short of excellence. Congratulations to Coach Whalen on an incredible career that left a lasting impact on Dartmouth and collegiate baseball. Thank you, Coach!"

— Ben Rice '22

Whalen ends his career with 653 wins, the most of any Ivy League baseball coach at a single institution and third most in any sport. During his tenure, he mentored eight Ivy League Rookies of the Year, five Ivy Players of the Year and four Ivy Pitchers of the Year. Dartmouth has had 31 Major League Baseball draft picks since Whalen took over, with six reaching the Major Leagues. Ben Rice (1B) was most recent with the New York Yankees making his MLB debut in 2024. The others were Beau Sulser (P) (Pirates and Orioles), Cole Sulser (P) (Rays, Orioles, Marlins, Diamondbacks and Mets), Kyle Hendricks (P) (Cubs and Angels), Ed Lucas (3B) (Marlins) and Mark Johnson (1B) (Pirates, Angels and Mets).

"Bob's tenure leading the Dartmouth Baseball program will forever have a special place in our athletics history," said Mike Harrity, Haldeman Family Director of Athletics and Recreation. "He cares deeply about Dartmouth and has poured his heart and soul into our baseball program for 36 years. We wish Bob, Kim and his family our best, and look forward to cheering alongside them at Red Rolfe Field at Biondi Park for seasons to come."

In his 36 seasons at the helm, Whalen has guided Dartmouth to 365 Ivy League wins—a .542 winning percentage and the most league victories by any program during that time. Under his leadership, the Big Green produced 80 first team All-Ivy selections, the highest total in the league over that span. Whalen also currently serves as president of the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA).

Whalen enjoyed success very early. In his first season of 1990, he guided Dartmouth to a 21-17 overall record, the most wins ever for a first-year Big Green coach. Whalen's first captain, Mark Johnson (1B), went on to play seven years in the big leagues for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Anaheim Angels and New York Mets.

In 2008, Whalen was named New England Coach of the Year and received the Jack Butterfield Award, presented to a New England coach who exemplifies the integrity and dedication to college baseball that Coach Butterfield embodied. That season, Dartmouth went 25–15 overall and 15–5 in Ivy League play, capturing the first of eight consecutive division titles and earning a spot in the Ivy League Championship Series.

The 2008 season proved to be a preview of what was ahead. In 2009, Dartmouth again claimed the Rolfe Division title with a league-best 16–4 record. The Big Green capped the decade by winning the Ivy League Championship Series over Cornell, earning a trip to the NCAA Regional. Outfielder Nick Santomauro was named Ivy League Player of the Year and received the Blair Bat Award, given to the league's top hitter. Following his standout junior season, he was selected in the 10th round of the MLB Draft by the New York Mets and signed with the organization.

The Big Green claimed their second straight conference championship in 2010, defeating Columbia in the Ivy Championship Series to earn the league's automatic bid to an NCAA Regional. Dartmouth picked up its first victory in a regional game in 23 years when it defeated Florida International, 15-9, then nearly knocked off No. 20 Texas A&M in a 4-3 loss. O'Dowd was the conference co-Rookie of the Year while the pitching staff led the nation in fewest walks allowed per nine innings for the second straight year.

During that 2010 season, Whalen earned his 384th career victory — a 5-4, 10-inning thriller at Princeton — pushing him past Jeff Tesreau (1919-46) as Dartmouth's all-time winningest coach.

In 2022, the Big Green posted a strong 24-19 record, including 14-7 in the Ivy League, finishing third in the conference standings. Outfielder Kade Kretzschmar was selected as the Ivy League Player of Year while shortstop Tyler Cox led the league in batting to claim the Blair Bat Award while also taking home the Rookie of the Year honor, as well as a spot on the All-New England Second Team.

This past season in 2025, Dartmouth swept a series with Cornell to give itself a chance until the very last game of the season for a bid into the four-team Ivy League Tournament.

Prior to his arrival at Dartmouth, Whalen was an assistant at the University of Maine from 1982-89 and was promoted to associate head coach in 1987.

Additional updates regarding the Dartmouth baseball coaching staff will be shared soon.