Judy Parish Oberting, coming off four straight 20-win seasons at Dartmouth, has resigned as the team’s head coach, citing personal reasons.
“For 10 years, I have been heading off to work knowing that there isn’t a job I would rather have at any other institution or in any other field,” said Oberting, coming off two consecutive women’s Frozen Four appearances with the Big Green.
“I have been given the support I have needed to be successful and we have had a pretty good run, but I am as certain today about it being the time to leave as I was in 1987 when I made the decision to attend Dartmouth as an undergrad.
“I know that the program is in good hands and in a position to continue to be successful for many years to come.”
In five years as Big Green’s head coach, Oberting — a 1991 graduate of Dartmouth — was 114-40-8. She led Dartmouth to the 2001 and 2002 Ivy League championships, ECAC Championship titles in 2001 and 2003 and first place in the 2001 ECAC regular season standings. Her 2002-03 squad was third at the NCAA tournament and set a school record with 27 victories.
This year, Oberting was a finalist for the national women’s coach of the year, an honor she earned in 1999-2000.
“Judy has had an incredible impact on this department from the time she entered as a freshman in 1987, and has continued to do so,” said Josie Harper, Dartmouth athletic director, “not only through her performances as an outstanding student-athlete, but as an assistant coach who helped build the women’s hockey program and as the head coach who has taken it to its greatest heights.”
A three-time first team All-Ivy selection in hockey, Oberting still holds seven Dartmouth women’s hockey records including goals by a defenseman in a game and season. Both were established during her freshman and sophomore campaigns. During her final two years, Oberting centered some of the finest lines in Big Green history and set school records for assists in a season and career. On Dartmouth’s all-time scoring chart, Oberting ranks first with 126 assists, second with 215 points and fourth with 89 goals.
A national search for her replacement will begin immediately, according to Dartmouth.
