Neil Sinclair, the interim coach of the Middlebury men last year when long-time coach Bill Beaney was on sabbatical, has been named the head coach of the Williams women’s team.
Sinclair, a 1993 graduate of Middlebury, was an assistant there for three years prior to last year. Sinclair then guided the Panthers to a regular-season NESCAC record of 16-2-1 last season. Middlebury finished first in NESCAC in the regular season, but lost in the NESCAC Tournament final to Trinity.
The Panthers advanced to the 2003 NCAA tournament semifinal round where they were ousted by Oswego State, finishing with an overall record of 22-5-2 (.793).
“After last season I knew I really wanted to be a head coach,” said Sinclair. “To be able to come to Williams where there is a priority on academics, but there is also a strong interest in athletics means a lot to me.
“I really enjoy and respect the NESCAC approach. I was also very impressed with the two players I met when I interviewed and [current Williams assistant and former Middlebury assistant] Michelyne Pinard also was helpful in making this decision.”
