No secret here – Colby has finally made it official. Former Dartmouth head coach and Colby alum David McLaughlin has been named as their new head men’s basketball coach. Here’s the official release from the college:
Colby College is pleased to announce that the men’s basketball program will be led by David McLaughlin, a dynamic leader with coaching success at the Division I, II, and III levels and a proven record of attracting and developing players with elite academic standards. A Colby graduate of the Class of 1997, McLaughlin now holds the title honoring Richard L. Whitmore Jr., the influential coach who helped mold, challenge, and mentor McLaughlin when he was a student-athlete at Colby.
“I am truly honored and excited to return to my alma mater as the Richard L. Whitmore Jr. Head Coach for Colby Men’s Basketball,” reflected McLaughlin. “Colby holds a special place in my life, and the experiences and relationships I built during my four years on Mayflower Hill have been both defining and incredibly enduring.”
During his time at Stonehill College, McLaughlin was named Northeast Regional Coach of the Year in 2006 and 2011 by the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the Northeast-10 Conference Coach of the Year in 2006 and 2010. The all-time wins leader at Stonehill, he twice took the Skyhawks to the NCAA Division II Final Four in 2006 and 2012.
McLaughlin served as Associate Head Coach of the Northeastern men’s basketball program and as an assistant coach at Wesleyan University. He coached at Suffolk University and was the head coach of the gold-medal-winning Northeast entry of the 1999 Bay State Games. McLaughlin also served as a head coach at the Collegiate Basketball Invitational for four years.
As head coach at Dartmouth for the last 10 seasons, McLaughlin led six players to All-Ivy distinction and 11 student-athletes to All-Academic recognition, and the Dartmouth men’s basketball coaching staff was named the 2024-25 Ivy League Coaching Staff of the Year.
“We were incredibly impressed with David’s vision for Colby men’s basketball,” said Amanda V. DeMartino, the Harold Alfond Director of Athletics. “He has intimate knowledge of the history of the program and institution as an alumnus, but it was his vision and passion for the future of the program that truly excited everyone on campus. We spoke at length about the importance of alignment, not just within the Athletics Department but across campus, and it was evident that Coach McLaughlin is the collaborative team player we are looking for. His extensive experience allows him to offer a distinctive perspective to the Colby Mules. I look forward to the steady leadership he will provide for our students, striving to elevate the program to new levels of competitive excellence. I am thrilled to welcome David and his wife, Jenna, back to Mayflower Hill.”
“My vision is to lead Colby basketball to prominence in the NESCAC and beyond while bringing an exciting, competitive, and tough style of play to the Harold Alfond Athletics and Recreation Center and Margaret M. Crook Center,” said McLaughlin. “It is especially meaningful to coach on the Whitmore-Mitchell Court, named after one of the greatest coaching duos of all time. Coach Whitmore was, and still is, a personal mentor of mine, and I take great honor in extending the tremendous legacy he left on the College, its students, and the future.
“I would like to sincerely thank President David Greene, Director of Athletics Amanda DeMartino, and Senior Vice President Matthew Proto for this unique and incredible opportunity to return to Mayflower Hill. I am eager to embrace this challenge and look forward to building strong relationships with our players and the entire Colby community.”
During McLaughlin’s time as a player under Whitmore, the team posted a 75-26 record, including a pair of 20-win seasons.
McLaughlin summarized, “As I’ve pursued my coaching career tirelessly across all levels and challenges, it has always been in the back of my mind to return to Colby. I have dreamed of working to the depth of my abilities and energy to provide the same experience and afford the same opportunity I was given as a student-athlete. My wife, Jenna, and I think so highly of our time at Colby and agree the stars aligned this week. This is truly an exciting time!”
McLaughlin will begin his tenure back on Mayflower Hill in the coming weeks.
