Carolyn Savoy retires from coaching

Dr. Carolyn Savoy. (Nick Pearce Photo)

Dalhousie University’s women’s basketball head coach Carolyn Savoy has announced her retirement from coaching, after a 32-year career of outstanding service to Dalhousie University and its women’s basketball program.

Dr. Savoy came to Dalhousie in 1977 as head coach of the women’s basketball team, following seven years in the same capacity at St. FX (1969-71, 1972-77), and has been leading the Tiger squad ever since, with the exception of two years of sabbatical leave. In over three decades of coaching Coach Savoy has posted very impressive results, including an 858-292 Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) win-loss record (including 738-240 at Dal) for a 74.6 winning percentage. A four-time Atlantic University Sport (AUS) Coach of the Year (1982, 2001, 2005, 2007), she has led the Tigers to the national final in 1980, the semifinals in 1982, to a fourth place CIS finish in 2007 and placed sixth at nationals in 1986, 1996 and 2001. Coach Savoy’s teams have won nine regular season AUS titles and five AUS Championships. Academically, her teams have a 100 per cent graduation record for those playing three to five years in the program.

“Carolyn Savoy's contributions to Dalhousie and our women's basketball program over three decades has been truly amazing," says Dalhousie President Tom Traves. "Carolyn defines the word ‘dedication’ and her commitment to our players' development as athletes and excellent students has made a profound difference in the lives of thousands of young women. Dalhousie owes Carolyn Savoy a great debt of gratitude.”

Dr. Savoy has been honoured with a number of prestigious awards including the 2002 Women of Excellence award in the health, sport and fitness category. In 2005, she received the Frank Baldwin award for her contribution to the development of basketball in Nova Scotia. She was also inducted to the Saint John Alpine Sport Hall of Fame in 2003 as a builder.

While completing her PhD in Sports Psychology at the University of Tennessee, she served as the sports psychology consultant for the Lady Vols NCAA championship basketball team in 1990-91. She has given talks and conducted performance enhancement seminars for a wide variety of organizations, including the Bank of Montreal, Scotiabank, the NS Real Estate Board, King Financial and Royal Bank. Carolyn has also authored a book, The Art of Coaching: A Practical Guide to Building Successful Teams.

“I can only say that 32 years at Dalhousie has gone by in the blink of an eye," says Dr. Savoy. "I am thankful for all of my players over these years—they are why I feel so young at heart! I am looking forward to new pursuits in working in the area of coaching effectiveness, leadership training and sport psychology. If you want to be successful, coaching is very time consuming, as anyone who coaches knows, so up to this point I haven’t had time to explore these areas. I will continue to work in the School of Health and Human Performance and on special projects within the Athletic Department until I retire from the university.”

When asked what she leaves as her legacy, Savoy is quick to state, “My players. It is their combined successes that they have had and continue to have in their lives on and off of the basketball court. I am very proud of all of my players' many accomplishments over my coaching career. Many of them are still my dear friends.”

Acting Director of Athletics at Dalhousie University, Karen Moore expressed gratitude for Coach Savoy’s efforts at Dalhousie, “I want to thank Carolyn for her incredible contribution to Dalhousie Athletics and to our women's basketball program. Her commitment to excellence and her dedication to her student-athletes have served us well. Carolyn’s ability to recruit great student-athletes and to develop them over their career has ensured her teams have always been competitive and in contention for conference championships. She will be missed but thankfully Carolyn will help us in our transition to a new coach."

Dr. Savoy will continue to work as an Associate Professor in the School of Health and Human Performance and will also assist the Department of Athletics and Recreational Services with the transition for the new coach. The position will be posted immediately.