Babson College

Dave Canan, who has served as the head softball coach at Babson College since 2000, is in his 24th season as an assistant with the women's basketball program in 2022-23. 

The Beavers have enjoyed unprecedented success during his time on staff, claiming 12 NEWMAC regular season titles and seven conference tournament championships. The program has made eight NCAA Tournament appearances, advancing to the Sweet 16 three times (2010, 2011, 2017) in addition to reaching the national quarterfinals in both 2010 and 2011. 

Canan's tenure has included 11 seasons with at least 20 victories, a mark that includes a program-record 30 consecutive wins to start the 2010-11 season. Babson has gone unbeaten five times over the last 12 years during NEWMAC regular season play and is 193-26 against league foes during this stretch. 

The longest-tenured softball coach in school history, Canan is now in his 24th season leading the program. His teams have captured three NEWMAC regular season titles, three conference tournament championships, and have reached the NCAA Tournament five times since 2005 when his squad posted a school-record 38 wins. His 2017 team won three straight elimination games to capture the Babson Park Regional and advanced to the NCAA Super Regionals for the first time in program history, and his 2022 squad posted a program-record 19 consecutive victories on the way to reaching the NCAA Regional final. 

A graduate of Boston State College and Northeastern University, Canan taught and coached softball and basketball at Masconomet Regional High School for almost 20 years before taking over as athletics director at Newburyport High School in 1994. While at Newburyport, Canan also coached softball for one season, leading the Clippers to a Cape Ann League title and a berth in the Division II state tournament.