Carlisle, PA — This fall, Dickinson College will begin its inaugural varsity men’s and women’s college squash seasons. The newest varsity programs will be led by a familiar name to college squash fans: Chris Sachvie.
Dickinson, a school of approximately 2,400 students, currently offers 12 varsity women’s sports and 11 varsity men’s sports. Dickinson competes in the Centennial Conference, which includes CSA member schools Franklin & Marshall and Haverford.
Dickinson is currently expanding its athletic facilities, the Kline Center, which will feature five squash courts. The additions to the Kline Center also include a larger fitness center, a cafe, and an outdoor sport court.
Sachvie played collegiate squash at Cornell University from 2006 – 2010, where he majored in sociology. He was a staple at the top of the Big Red’s lineup and served as their captain for three seasons. He was named to the Men’s College Squash Association Second Team All-American squad in 2008, 2009, and 2010 and to the All-Ivy League team in 2008 and 2009. Also in 2009, Sachvie was a member of the Cornell team that won the Barnaby Award, which is given to the men’s team showing the most improvement from the previous season.
“Chris brings an exceptional performance and coaching pedigree to the head coach position,” says Les Poolman, Dickinson’s athletic director.
For the past several seasons, Sachvie has been coaching in the college ranks. From 2010 – 2012 he was the assistant coach at St. Lawrence, working under Chris Abplanalp. While at St. Lawrence, he earned his Master’s of Education, specializing in Leadership. From 2012 – 2014, he was on Stuart leGassick’s staff at Brown University as the Steel Family Assistant Coaching Chair for Squash. During the 2013 – 2014 season, he assisted le Gassick and the Brown women in capturing the Chaffee Award, which is given annually to a coach whose team has demonstrated the qualities of sportsmanship, teamwork, character, and improvement.
In addition to college coaching, Sachvie was the Battle of the Border Team Ontario Junior coach from 2010 to 2012. He has taught squash at White Oaks Fitness and Racquet Club since 2008.
“This is an exciting time for Red Devil collegiate athletics and for Chris, who has this extraordinary opportunity before him to recruit and develop players, lead a new varsity program, and introduce squash culture to the campus community and beyond,” states Poolman.
“I am extremely excited for the opportunity to launch the first-ever squash program at Dickinson,” says Sachvie. “It is a unique and fun opportunity to be able to build a program from scratch. I look forward to the challenges and gratification that will come with the process and success.”
Congratulations to Dickinson and Sachvie.
