Dartmouth football head coach Buddy Teevens announced the hiring of former University of Oklahoma defensive lineman Calvin Thibodeaux as defensive line coach on Friday, according to DartmouthSports.com. Thibodeaux spent the past season as the defensive line coach at Navarro College, which posted an 11-1 record and won the National Junior College Athletic Association national championship last fall. Navarro's defense produced 25 sacks during the season and was ranked in the top 12 nationally in both rushing defense and total defense. Thibodeaux also spent time at the University of Houston as a graduate assistant coach, working specifically with the defensive line and outside linebackers. During his first year at Houston, the Cougars made their first bowl appearance in 28 years behind the play of defensive end Philip Hunt, who was named Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year. Thibodeaux also won three Big 12 Championships as a player at Oklahoma while appearing in four Bowl Championship Series bowl games, including two BCS National Championship games. As a junior in 2005, he was named All-Big 12 after leading the league with 10 sacks. Thibodeaux will replace former defensive line coach James Jones, who helped guide the Big Green defense to 28 sacks last season.
Baseball America and College Baseball Today both predicted the Dartmouth baseball team will win the Rolfe Division in the Ivy League for a fourth consecutive year in their Ivy League previews, according to DartmouthSports.com. While College Baseball Today did not pick an overall League winner, Baseball America predicted the Big Green to win the Ivy Championship Series and to earn the League's automatic bid to the NCAA Regional Championships. Joe Sclafani '12 was chosen as the League's preseason Player of the Year by Baseball America, and six of his teammates were named to the preseason All-Conference Team. First baseman Jason Brooks '11, center fielder Jake Carlson '12 and catcher Chris O'Dowd '13 are expected to produce big season wins in the Big Green lineup. Right-handed pitcher Cole Sulser '12, southpaw Kyle Hunter '13 and right-handed closer Ryan Smith '11 are expected to lead the Big Green pitching staff, which issued the fewest walks in the country per nine innings last season. College Baseball Today also listed right-hander Kyle Hendricks '12 and third baseman Ennis Coble '13 as potential All-Conference candidates. Dartmouth, which won its first victory at a regional championship since 1987 last season, will return 20 letter-winners from last year's team, DartmouthSports.com reported. The Big Green will begin its season on March 4, when it plays a three-game series at the University of Central Florida.
