Aldrich to step down as Nordic head coach

Author: James Kerrigan

Next year's Winter Carnival will be Middlebury's first without Terry Aldrich in over 30 years. Effective July 1, Aldrich will step down as Nordic Ski Coach - he will continue to coach the cross country teams and will fulfill other administrative duties.

Last weekend, a group of Nordic alums organized a party to celebrate Terry Aldrich - the man and the coach. Attendees ranged from alumni from the Class of 1976 to current first-years who have just completed their first carnivals, but their experiences with Aldrich share a common thread. Although the crowd spanned generations, it was one family bound together by their leader, and friend, Terry Aldrich.

Dorcas Wonsavage came to Middlebury in the 1980s as a field hockey and lacrosse player. Four years later, she left an All-American Nordic skier and a Division III national champion cross-country runner. Amazingly, her athletic career continued after graduation as she became a member on the 1988 U.S. Olympic Team. Apart from her intense drive and natural athletic ability, Aldrich was a major influence in her success.

Aldrich welcomed her into the cross-country ski community with open arms - and skis. The ski team is a family, and as Wonsavage recalled, "He shared his love of the outdoors and the lifestyle of a cross-country skier. I still love the outdoors and love that life." Aldrich's influence on his skiers transcends their time at Middlebury - his impact endures.

He has created a well recognized and accepted program in his tenure as coach. Aldrich understands that "Middlebury attracts a high quality of student," but to say that it is the student alone who has created this reputation would miss a key element.

Aldrich's character has been the backbone of the program. From recruiting to waxing, he developed an amazing program. His job will be highly desirable - other coaches have told Aldrich that his position may be one of the most sought-after collegiate positions, maybe in history.

Leading the Nordic program, Aldrich coached 30 All-Amercians as well as three Olympians (Sue Long in 1984, Dorcas DenHartog in 1988 and 1992 and Andrew Johnson in 2002). His teams captured the 1979 and 1980 AIAW Women's National Championships, while the 2004 squad won the EISA title, earning him EISA Coach of the Year honors.

He has also spent the past 30 years as a successful cross-country coach - it is a position he will continue to hold. His women's teams have won numerous state, conference, ECAC and NCAA regional titles, as well as three NCAA Championships. During his tenure at Middlebury he has coached 22 cross-country All-Americans. After the 2000, 2001 and 2003 seasons, in which the women won national championships, Aldrich was named the NESCAC, New England and National Coach of the Year.

His accomplishments are myriad which makes pinpointing a favorite moment nearly impossible. Leaning back in his chair, he filtered through a database of memories, searching for a standout moment. "Winning the Eastern Championship two years ago and breaking UVM's streak of 29 straight" came to mind. But struggling to isolate one story, one event or one player sheds light on his tenure - his career is a collection of all these.

"I'm going to miss the days of competition and the challenge of waxing," said Aldrich, "but I am looking forward to developing relationships with the XC runners." While he won't miss the long van rides to northern Maine, he still has a fiery passion for coaching. "I don't know how many more years I will be here, but I'll continue to coach as long as I still enjoy and love what I am doing."

Hundreds of Nordic skiers, past and present, have unique experiences they share with Coach Aldrich. And while each story may be different, they are all united through Aldrich's creation of a loving family, both on and off the snow. Together, these experiences make up Aldrich's legacy. They will undoubtedly be tough boots to fill.

Nordic is a sport with two types of races: classic and freestyle, both fitting for his character. Freestyle can be defined as a competition in which any maneuver or movement is allowed. Coaching strategies are diverse, but Aldrich has found the right one for the right school. Classic can be defined as serving as a standard of excellence. By this definition, Terry Aldrich is quintessentially classic.