After 36 consecutive seasons of leading Dartmouth baseball, head coach Bob Whalen retired on July 3 as the winningest baseball coach at a single institution in Ivy League history, according to Dartmouth Sports. Whalen finished his Dartmouth career with 653 wins, the most by an Ivy League baseball coach at a single program, along with two Ivy League championships and two NCAA tournament appearances. Under Whalen’s leadership, Dartmouth baseball featured 80 first-team All-Ivy selections and 365 Ivy League wins, both the most of any program in the league.
Whalen fondly reflected on his tenure at Dartmouth.
“This has been the greatest privilege of my professional life,” Whalen said. “To have been so fortunate to be able to have an opportunity at a world-class institution like Dartmouth, to be able to teach and coach high-quality people who have bought into what we try to do here, to be around them and see them grow and mature — it’s been fun to be a small part of that.”
Whalen’s success was driven by a dedication to building a program rooted in fundamentals, a strong work ethic and an unwavering commitment to personal excellence, according to player AJ DeMastrie ’27.
“He told us to take pride in everything – no thing too small or overlooked,” DeMastrie said. “He was big on stressing small details. He made it known that those, in a way, mean more than the big picture.”
Ethan Brown ’27 concurred, stressing how hands-on Whalen was as a coach.
“He was all over the place, helping out wherever, whether defense with catchers and pitchers or while we were hitting, trying to give insight,” Brown said.
Whalen’s influence extended beyond baseball; his players describe him as a mentor who prioritized players’ growth as students and individuals as well.
“I can’t say I’d be the person I am without having him as my coach,” DeMastrie said. “He wanted and expected the best out of me in all aspects of life, and helped me grow and mature a lot quicker than I might have if he wasn’t my head coach.”
Brown added that Whalen, having coached for nearly four decades, understood that Dartmouth students need to balance academics and athletics.
“Off the field, he stressed the overall importance of academics,” DeMastrie said. “With him being in the Dartmouth community [for] so long, he also understood Dartmouth was a one-of-a-kind experience, so he allowed us to enjoy all the extracurriculars.”
When asked about their favorite memories playing for Whalen, there seemed to be one common factor: his undying passion for the sport.
Brown recalled competing against a top-ranked Texas team at the beginning of the 2024-2025 season.
“We played three really tight games against a team that was ranked number one for much of the ’25 season.” Brown said. “Although we were losing, he was really proud of us for going out and competing with them.”
Whalen also spearheaded the development of a new field, cementing him into the program’s history. Under his leadership, Dartmouth built Red Rolfe Field at Biondi Park — a new turf field which Whalen had envisioned for years. Both Whalen and the players stressed the new field as monumental to the program.
Looking to the future, Brown and DeMastrie both said they hope to find a new coach who will embody Whalen’s values.
“We’re looking for someone who can replicate Coach Whalen’s ability to make the team the best it can be,” Brown said. “We’re also looking for all sorts of different perspectives, which Coach Whalen brought in as well.”
Whalen left a piece of simple yet powerful advice for future players.
“The game is bigger than all of us, so respect the way you play and always seek to do things the right way to the best of your ability,” he said.
Looking back on his Dartmouth tenure, Whalen added that he is grateful for his years at the Big Green.
“I'm thankful and appreciative that I got to raise my kids here, surrounded by high-character people in all athletics at Dartmouth,” he said. “I’m a lucky guy.”
