Integrity

Chris Wielgus

Women'S Basketball (1976-1984; 1993-PRESENT)

When I started at Dartmouth, I was still in that phase where I looked at coaches in awe. Whatever Chris said to me, I thought OK, I'll hold that, Til do that. I went in to see her when I first got on campus. We had our freshmen complimentary mugs from Campion's. I said, "Look, I got my mug. She said "Good. Let's see if we can keep that thing empty. And I said to myself. OK. She doesn't want medrinking. So I got serious right away.

I was in the class of 86—we were a class that was serious about basketball to begin with. I know the upperclassmen thought we worked too hard, but we also laughed a lot. That was kind of like Chris, too. She was businesslike and easygoing at the same time, as if her whole manner was saying, Look. There's a job to be done here, but we can have fan doing it. And she was very consistent, no matter what kinds of moods we were in. She never swore, never got mad at anybody. There was a time she kicked a player out of practice. All she said was, "Get outta here. You're not with us today. You're not doing what we need to do." But she didn't carry a grudge over to the next day. She didn't play mind games. She's such a woman of class.

We became friends on and off the court. I played for her my first two years. We won the Ivy League my freshman year. The next season we didn't have that stellar a team. Chris was pregnant, and very tired. I admired how she gave us what she could, but that she never lost sight of carrying a baby. Then she moved' and Jackie Hullah came in. Chris sent me a letter on opening day the next season. She said, "You've got a new coach. Make it easy for her; make her feel welcome." With the letter was this little cartoon book of basketball fundamentals. She said it was her good luck charm, and she wanted me to have it. I couldn't believe it! I held that book with me until Chris got back to Dartmouth, then I mailed it back to her. I said I've had this all these years, you might need it now.

There are certain people in my life that I'm very thankful for. When I pray and thank God for people in my life, she's an important one on the list.