Spencer takes over the role held the past 24 years by Amy Patton, who resigned the position on July 8 following an athletic department inquiry that led to a conclusion of Patton having “engaged in conduct inconsistent with the standards of Dartmouth athletics,” according to a school news release.
Patton took exception to the decision in a statement included in the release. “Sadly, I do not think it is possible for me to continue to work at Dartmouth,” Patton said last month.
Spencer is just the fourth head coach in the 44-year history of Dartmouth women’s lacrosse. A 2010 Northwestern graduate, Spencer spent the last four years as an assistant with the Wildcats, who routinely are among the top NCAA Division I programs in the country. Spencer also spent a season as a Stanford assistant prior to rejoining her alma mater.
Spencer helped Northwestern to four NCAA tournament appearances the past four years, making the Final Four in 2013 and ’14.
A four-year standout at Northwestern from 2006-10, Spencer was a part of three national championship teams (2007, 2008, 2009) and one national runner-up (2010) during her playing career.
“I could not think of a better role model and mentor for the Dartmouth women’s lacrosse student-athletes,” Northwestern coach Kelly Amonte Hiller said in Monday’s news release. “Losing a great coach and loyal friend is tough, but Spence is ready. I could not be happier for her.”
Most recently, Spencer playedwith the Boston Storm of the United Women’s Lacrosse League — where Patton was coach, ironically — during the first season for both the team and league. Spencer and her teammates finished as the league runner-up, falling in the championship game.
Martin’s hiring marks the program’s fourth head coaching change during the past five years, and she will be the program’s third bench boss in as many seasons. The Wildcats were 8-7 last spring under Erin Mellow and are 27-42 during the past five seasons.
Martin, who founded the Empower Lacrosse Club for Upper Valley girls in 2013, worked at Dartmouth from 2002-2012. Martin’s assistant will be Claudia Barcomb, who in April resigned after nine years as Union (N.Y.) College’s women’s ice hockey coach.
Barcomb, whose last Dutchwomen team was 0-28-6 and whose program was 36-236-32 during her reign, will also assist KUA girls hockey coach Mark Hudak. He was hired earlier this year after resigning from the same post at Dartmouth.
The Trinity College junior enjoyed recorded two birdies on each of the Concord track’s nines, marred only by a bogey 4 on the par-3 sixth hole. Choukas should have good memories of the course: He won a pair of NHIAA Division II state team championships there in 2011 and ‘12.
Not to be outdone, younger brother Phin Choukas notched an even-par 72 and is in a tie for fifth after the first day of play. Both golfers play out of Hanover Country Club.
Nashua’s Michael Martel and Green Meadow’s Josh Kibbe are a shot off the lead. The top 40 golfers and ties after today’s second round advance to Wednesday’s 36-hole final day.