Sports Talk
An unforgettable day at Fenway Park, and two coaching legends retire.
FROZEN BISCUIT
UMass Amherst players wielded hockey sticks instead of baseball bats at the venerable home of the Boston Red Sox for this year’s Frozen Fenway in early January. After snow forced a one-day delay, the Minutemen faced off against the Boston University Terriers, and despite coming up short 5–3, it was an unforgettable day. Said Coach Greg Carvel: “To play outside hockey and next to the Green Monster—you just can’t match this.”
WE’LL MISS YOU, COACH
Longtime coaches Judy Dixon (women’s tennis) and Mike Stone ’82 (baseball), who have more than 1,000 UMass victories between them, will both retire after the spring season.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU COACHED AT UMASS?
Dixon: 25 years—24 years longer than I expected.
Stone: 30 years. I was also a student here.
WHY DID YOU STAY SO LONG?
Dixon: Working with young people on and off the court is a job made in heaven.
Stone: I am fortunate to have great students to work with, and it was a great place for our family to grow up.
WHAT HAS CHANGED MOST ABOUT THE SPORT?
Dixon: The players are remarkably bigger, stronger, and more skilled. They see Division I sports as a job and take their athletic and academic lives very seriously.
Stone: There is a lot more competition now— competition for players, competition on the field, and more competitive schools.
IN A FEW WORDS, WHAT IS YOUR MOST VALUABLE COACHING ADVICE?
Dixon: Winning is not the goal; the goal is to improve with each match.
Stone: Persistence, press on.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR RETIREMENT?
Dixon: Play competitive tennis at the international level. Teach tennis to disadvantaged children. Write a book about my experiences and Title IX.
Stone: Move to Plymouth, Massachusetts. Play lots of golf, stay active, maybe do some personal training.