BABSON PARK, Mass.—Spanning parts of four decades as the head softball coach and assistant women's basketball coach at Babson College, Dave Canan announced his retirement earlier this month. 

Canan coached 992 games on the diamond during his 25-year career amassing a record of 605-386-1 for a .610 winning percentage. He guided the program to four New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) regular season and tournament championships, six NCAA Tournament appearances and 27 or more wins eight times during his 25-year run. 

"After 51 years of coaching, the last 26 years at Babson, it was a difficult decision to retire but deep down I knew it was time" said Canan. "If I had to end my career, I couldn't have found a better place than Babson. I've had the opportunity to work with dedicated, professional and caring people during that time. I loved the fact I was able to watch and observe some great coaches, learning so much from them. I was fortunate to have great assistant coaches to work alongside. Whitey, Paul, Doc, Michelle, Mike, Amber and Jenna all made coaching that much more enjoyable and the program successful.

"More than anything, I was blessed to be a small part of a team which had so many young women that, more often than not, did things the right way. When I look at so many alums that are still part of the program, it brings me a sense of satisfaction."

Canan, who was hired as an assistant women's basketball coach in the summer of 1998 after coaching at Masconomet Regional High School and serving as the athletic director at Newburyport High School, took over the reins of the Babson softball program prior to the 2000 campaign. He guided the Green and White to 18 victories in 2001 and needed just three seasons to lead a program that had posted a winning record just four times in its first 13 years to the 25-win mark. The Beavers won 26 games in 2004 and put together a historic 2005 campaign that included a single-season record 38 victories, their first NEWMAC Tournament championship and the first NCAA Tournament appearance in program history. 

Babson won 35 games, captured its first regular season league title and repeated as conference tournament champions in 2006. Canan guided his 2007 squad to another NEWMAC regular season crown and an appearance in the conference tournament championship game. 

Beginning with the 2012 campaign, Canan led the Green and White to seven top-three finishes in the conference standings in the span of 12 seasons. His 2013 squad won four straight NEWMAC Tournament elimination games to secure an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, where the Beavers started with back-to-back wins before falling to Tufts and Rowan. 

"Dave has played a key role in fostering the growth and success of our softball program over the last three decades," commented Pamela P. and Brian M. Barefoot Associate Vice President for Athletics and Athletics Advancement Mike Lynch. "He is passionate about his job and with his caring nature has left a lasting impact on so many current and past student-athletes and coaches. Dave is a great colleague and I appreciate all he has given to Babson over the years and he will be greatly missed."

In 2017, Babson won three straight elimination games on its way to claiming a NEWMAC Tournament championship. The Beavers followed the same script in the NCAA Tournament with an elimination-game victory over Framingham State and two more against Rowan at Alumni Field to reach the Division III Super Regionals for the first time in school history by winning the Babson Park Regional. The Green and White split the first two games before ultimately falling to Williams in a best-of-three series for the right to go to the NCAA College World Series. 

Canan, who earned his 500th win just before the 2020 season was canceled due to COVID, led the Green and White to back-to-back NEWMAC regular season titles in 2021 and 2022. His 2021 squad dominated the conference on the way to an NCAA Tournament bid and his 2022 team matched the school record with 38 wins, which included 18 straight victories from April 12-May 5, and advanced to the NCAA Geneseo (N.Y.) Regional final. 

Following a 2-8 start this past spring, the Beavers won 25 of their final 35 outings, which included Canan's 600th victory, on the way to reaching the NEWMAC Tournament final. 

In addition to his success on the field, the Babson women's basketball team amassed 480 victories, won 12 regular season and eight NEWMAC Tournament championships, and made 10 NCAA Tournament appearances during his 25-year tenure as an assistant coach. The Beavers won 85 straight conference games from 2009-13 and reached the NCAA Elite Eight three times (2010, 2011, 2023) as well as the Sweet 16 in 2017.

A three-time NEWMAC Coach of the Year, Canan helped his softball players earn five All-America, 27 all-region and 57 all-conference accolades over the last 25 years. He leaves Babson as one of just 51 Division III coaches with at least 600 wins and a .610 winning percentage.

A national search for Babson's next softball coach is underway. 

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WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT DAVE CANAN

"Coach Dave was one of the main reasons I chose Babson. I wasn't sure I wanted to be so far away, but the second I met with Dave it felt like home. Dave genuinely cared for us both on and off the field. He basically had a tissue box with my name on it in his office during my early homesick days.  

"During my sophomore season, we knew we had something special. Dave believed in us and pushed us to want more, too. We set our sights on going to the D3 tournament in Raleigh. While we fell a bit short of that, we did bring home the program's first NEWMAC championship and then did it again the following year. 

"I loved Dave as a leader. He never yelled and was always very calm. Every now and then a bat took some hits off the dirt at the end of an inning, but that was about as much frustration as he ever let show. He led by example, which in turn kept us calm during high pressure games as well. 

"Dave's genuine care for his players combined with his softball knowledge and desire to win enabled him to build our program into what it is today, and I am so happy I got to be a part of the journey!"

-Darcy Lantz Buck '07

"I'm not sure where to even start with the impact that Dave left on not only me but the Babson softball program, so I'll highlight two of my favorites. The first was when we were playing Coast Guard and I was pitching, but Dave didn't seem to be concerned about us winning the game as he was more concerned about the Coast Guard boy who was on the sidelines in hope that he could find me a boyfriend in that moment. To this day, he says "I didn't have a doubt we weren't going to win, but I needed to take the opportunity". Dave never let an opportunity pass, whether on the field or off, or in this case, on the field for an off the field matter. 

"The second being that we spent an hour every day talking in his office about school, softball, our lives, and everything in between. Dave didn't just care about us as players on the field, he cared about us as humans and took us in as his daughters. From the moment I stepped on campus, I knew that Dave was going to be in my life far longer than the game of softball, and I can speak for many when I say he gave us the opportunity that others didn't and gave us our second family. The past 26 years that Dave has been at Babson are nothing short of amazing, and I know his legacy will live on for years to come in the Babson softball program."

-Katie Gademsky '20

"I feel incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to play for Dave. Anyone fortunate enough to call Dave their coach knows how dedicated he is to his team. Dave always ensured that everyone felt valued. He had a unique ability to see the potential in each individual and support their personal growth while fostering a strong team-first mentality.

"My most meaningful and lifelong friendships are with my Babson softball teammates, and I know that is not a coincidence. Dave invested so much time and energy into strengthening our team dynamic and building a sense of camaraderie off the field, which ultimately led to our success on the field. He was incredibly supportive of each of us, and there wasn't a single problem he wasn't willing to help us work through. He encouraged us to face adversity head-on and guided us at every turn.

"Dave made my Babson experience truly unforgettable and has positively impacted not only my life but countless others. Thank you Dave for believing in all of us, pushing us to be our best, and supporting us wholeheartedly. We are forever grateful for you."

-Shannon Kortmann '17

"It is hard to put into words the impact Coach Dave has had on me and the Babson softball program as a whole. He has created a winning culture, built on the foundations of hard work, integrity, and selflessness, which will be forever ingrained in the Babson softball brand. It is easy to look at his record, achievements and accolades and say he was a great coach, but those things are not what made him a great coach. It is how much he cares about everyone as individuals that sets him apart. He is dedicated to bettering each of us, teaching us how to be better teammates, leaders and people, and not just better softball players. He has positively impacted so many young women across his career and I am lucky to have been part of this group. 

"Coach Dave has always asked us what we want our Babson softball legacy to be, but his is simple. Babson softball would not be what it is today without Coach Dave. He is everything that makes Babson softball great and his legacy will live on forever with this program."

-Abrianna Natoli '22