Northampton, MA — Smith College has announced that Tim Bacon, their head squash coach for the past 21 years, has stepped down.
Bacon took over at Smith College at the beginning of the 1994 – 1995 season. In his tenure, he guided the program to 142-333 record. As the eighth squash coach in the history of Smith College, Bacon holds the program records for tenure (21 seasons), career victories (142), and single season victories (19).
According to Lynn Oberbillig, Smith’s Director of Athletics and Recreation, “Tim has poured his heart and soul into Smith since his arrival in 1994. For the past 21 years, he has mentored and developed student-athletes in the classroom, on the court, and in life. We wish him well and thank him for his many years of service to Smith.”
Bacon is also retiring from lecturing in Smith College’s Exercise and Sports Study program.
Prior to coaching at Smith College, Bacon, a Canadian, coached collegiately at the University of Western Ontario and McGill University. He is a Squash Canada Level 4 coach, who in 1990 led the Canadian Junior Men’s National Team at the World Championships.
In 2004, Bacon was co-presented with the Women’s College Squash Association’s Chaffee Award, which is given annually to a coach whose team has demonstrated the qualities of sportsmanship, teamwork, character, and improvement.
In 2012, Bacon led the Pioneers to the Epps Cup (D Division) at the Women’s National Team Championship.
A true teacher of the game, Bacon taught countless student-athletes how to play squash, including four Wetzel Award winners: Kanta Murali (1999), Ashley Kilgore (2005), Jennifer Recht (2006), and Clair Oblamski (2012). The Women’s College Squash Association’s Wetzel Award is presented annually to a senior who began playing squash in college and has progressed to a high level of skill, demonstrates sound understanding of the game, and exhibits good sportsmanship and a positive demeanor on the court. Bacon has coached the most Wetzel Award winners of any coach in collegiate history.
Bacon gave many years of volunteer service to the Women’s College Squash Association, including serving as the chair of the Rules and Regulations committee.
Bacon’s academic teaching is concentrated in sports science, mental training, and coaching education, including sport psychology. He is a former chair of the Sport Science Committee for Squash Canada and is a frequent speaker at international coaching conferences. As a certfied mental training consultant, Bacon has consulted with the Canadian squash, tennis, and racquetball national team programs since 1987. He is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS).
Bacon plans to pursue opportunities in sports consulting.
