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In memoriam

This In memoriam page houses messages from senior leadership regarding loss of life in the Dartmouth community--student, faculty or staff--when it occurs. It is heartbreaking to lose any member of the Dartmouth family, as each individual contributes so much to the College and to those who have had the pleasure of studying, working, and learning alongside them.

Taking time to grieve such losses while honoring the memory of those who died is important. So is seeking support when you need it. We encourage you to make time for all of that in whatever ways are most meaningful and comfortable to you.

September 19, 2023

Eugene F. "Buddy" Teevens '79

To the Dartmouth community,
 
It is with the heaviest of hearts that we write to share that Eugene F. "Buddy" Teevens '79, the Robert L. Blackman Head Football Coach, has died. Buddy passed away today following injuries sustained in a bicycle accident in March. He was 66.
 
This is tragic news for Dartmouth and the entire football world. Buddy not only was synonymous with Dartmouth football, he was a beloved coach and an innovative, inspirational leader who helped shape the lives of generations of students.
 
Buddy's wife, Kirsten Teevens, their children Lindsay and Buddy Jr., and their four grandchildren are in our thoughts and have our deepest sympathy. We know the greater Dartmouth athletic family will join the Teevens family in mourning the loss of this vibrant, energetic, visionary man.
 
"Our family is heartbroken to inform you that our beloved 'coach' has peacefully passed away surrounded by family. Unfortunately, the injuries he sustained proved too challenging for even him to overcome," the Teevens family said in a statement. "Throughout this journey, we consistently relayed the thoughts, memories, and love sent his way. Your kindness and letters of encouragement did not go unnoticed and were greatly appreciated by both Buddy and our family."
 
Interim Head Coach Sammy McCorkle spoke to the football team with Mike this evening after practice to let them know about Buddy's death and to ensure that they have the support and resources they need as they process such devastating news.
 
As relative newcomers to the Dartmouth community, both of us were profoundly moved by the warmth and enthusiasm with which Buddy welcomed us into the fold. His excitement about our appointments and his wholehearted support of us in our new roles could not have been more meaningful.
 
With input from the Teevens family, we will plan to honor Buddy's legacy in many ways in the coming weeks and months.
 
The team will play this weekend as Buddy would have wanted, hosting Lehigh on Saturday at Memorial Field at 1:30 p.m. There will be a moment of silence prior to the game and a gathering of remembrance afterward. 
 
Football had been Buddy's North Star since his days as a Big Green quarterback, where he excelled, being named an Ivy League Player of the Year in 1978, the year he led Dartmouth football to the Ivy League title. Also that year, he was named an honorable mention All-American quarterback. Forty-one years later, in 2019, he became the winningest coach in Dartmouth football history.
 
Buddy served as a head coach for more than 30 years, including 22 seasons at Dartmouth. He spent two years at Maine, first coached the Big Green from 1987 through 1991, sharing the Ivy League title in 1990 and winning it outright the following year. He also coached at Tulane and Stanford, then returned to Dartmouth in 2005 and led the team to a share of the Ivy League crown in 2015, 2019, and 2021.
 
At Dartmouth, Buddy was honored as the New England Coach of the Year three times, in 1990, 2015, and 2019, and Ivy League Coach of the Year in 2019 and 2021. His record as Dartmouth head coach was 117-101-2, including 83-70-1 in Ivy League play.
 
Buddy was nationally known for his drive to make football safer. He reduced full-contact practices by focusing on technique, leading to the development at Thayer School of Engineering of the Mobile Virtual Player, a robotic tackling dummy that has also been used by other college programs and NFL teams.
 
For 25 years, Buddy was part of the Manning Passing Academy, and through the camp in 2018 he hired Callie Brownson at Dartmouth, where she became the first full-time female Division I coach in football.
 
Buddy was a Dartmouth original. He will be greatly missed and dearly remembered by so many members of the community whose lives he touched and changed for the better.
 
We know that people may need support at this difficult time. Those of you who wish to talk with a counselor are encouraged to do so. Students can call the Counseling Center at 603-646-9442. Faculty and staff can call the Faculty/Employee Assistance Program at 844-216-8308.
 
Sincerely,

Sian Leah Beilock
President

Mike Harrity
Haldeman Family Director of Athletics and Recreation