The first days of April brought great news for Dartmouth's soccer teams and their fans. The College's plans for a new intercollegiate soccer stadium were boosted by a $4.5 million commitment from Stanley Smoyer, Class of 1934. The new facility -- as per Smoyer's request -- will be named in honor of Alden "Whitey" Burnham, a coach and administrator at the College from 1960 to 1989. Smoyer's sons played standout careers under Burnham in the 1960s.
The stadium, soon to be located near Scully-Fahey Field on the eastern edge of campus, will boast a top-quality natural-grass pitch that will be lighted and well-drained, permanent spectator seating with capacity to host about 2,000 people, a press box, scoreboard and space for concessions and restrooms. The total cost of the project, including an endowment for maintenance, is currently set at $8 million.
"We're grateful for Stan [Smoyer]'s support of the College, particularly its athletics programs, which are an essential component of the Dartmouth experience," President James Wright said. "Stan's generous gift will provide an important resource for our students and honor a coach and mentor who brought out the best in his players."
Smoyer, who currently lives in Princeton, N.J., with his wife Marjorie, is a very generous Dartmouth benefactor. Some of the projects that he has supported include the history department curriculum and programs, Tucker Foundation internships, Boss Tennis Center, Gordon Pavilion, Thompson Arena and Berry Sports Center. He has also supported an endowment fund to bring recognition to athletes and their teams. Smoyer graduated Phi Beta Kappa with an AB in History and was President of Dartmouth's Alumni Council in 1975.
Burnham, who still lives in Hanover with his wife Joanne, won Dartmouth men's soccer's first Ivy League title as a coach in 1964. David Smoyer '63 and Bill Smoyer '67 both played under him, with David earning first team All-America honors as a goalie in 1962. Bill, a first team All-Ivy selection in 1966, was the Big Green's leading scorer in its championship-winning 1964 season.
Burnham gave up coaching to join the administration in 1969, when he was appointed assistant director of athletics and later, associate director. An adopted member of the Class of 1946, he was inducted into Dartmouth's "Wearers of the Green" in 1989, the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Hall of Fame in 1995 and the Springfield College Hall of Fame in 2001.
The new facility will undoubtedly add to the momentum gained by Dartmouth's men's and women's soccer teams, who have won six Ivy League titles apiece. Most recently, the men took home Ancient Eight titles in 2002 and 2004, while the women won the conference in 2000, 2001 and 2003.
"We hope that [the facility] is going to have a great effect on the overall quality of our soccer program, and we are thrilled by the generosity of that gentleman [Smoyer]," said head coach Jeff Cook. "With the recent renovation of Chase Field, where we currently play our games, and the completing of the new stadium, Dartmouth will have both top-level competitive and training facilities."
