Women's Swim Coach Betsy Mitchell will not be back next season to continue to lead her team to the recent success it has seen.
Instead, Mitchell will explore another side of college life. Mitchell will go back to the life of a student, pursuing advanced studies in education at Harvard.
"Her enthusiasm and her ability to inspire people will be greatly missed," this past season's co-Captain Karyn Bysshe '96 said of Mitchell.
Mitchell has proved herself important to Dartmouth's world of women's swimming, bringing her team up to new standards in her six-year tenure as head coach.
"She's been the perfect person for the program," Bysshe said. "At the time she was here, she did what needed to be done. She brought a perspective to the pool that had never been there before and never will be again."
"Betsy brought a lot of positive aspects to the program, which helped bring it to its current level," co-Captain Deb Whitney '96 said.
Over the past three years, Mitchell has compiled a 19-13 overall record.
In the first of those three years, 1993-94, Mitchell led her team to tie the school record for wins in a season, finishing up 7-4.
Mitchell surpassed that record the next season, ending at 8-3.
For the last two years, Mitchell's team finished sixth at the Eastern Swimming Championships. This finish is the best the program has done in its history.
Two of Mitchell's swimmers took the top spots at the Eastern Championships this season, another first for the Big Green. Bysshe won the 200 butterfly, while Andrea Hill '97 shutout her competitors in the 200 breaststroke.
"It is always tough to lose someone of Betsy's caliber and energy," athletic director Dick Jaeger said. "It will be hard for us to replace her, but she certainly has valid, understandable reasons for moving on and changing her direction."
Mitchell's final overall record over her six years here fell just shy of a .500 career at 31-32. She leaves posting a 13-29 Ivy League record.
Mitchell is a former Olympic swimmer and holds the world record in the backstroke.
"This has been a great six years. The athletes make it the best and I'll miss the interaction with them," Mitchell said.
