BABSON PARK, Mass.—Following one of the most successful careers in Division III history, Babson College head women's basketball coach Judy Blinstrub announced her retirement on Friday morning.
Blinstrub coached 1,049 games during her 39-year career amassing a career record of 719-330 for a .685 winning percentage. She ranks 11th in Division III history in victories and led the Beavers to the postseason 23 times, which includes 12 NCAA Tournament appearances.
"Judy has played an integral role in the growth and success of not only the women's basketball program but our department as a whole over the last four decades," commented Pamela P. and Brian M. Barefoot Associate Vice President for Athletics and Athletics Advancement Mike Lynch. "She has had a remarkable career on the sidelines and has influenced hundreds of student-athletes as a coach and an administrator. Judy is a wonderful colleague and friend and I am deeply appreciative for all that she has done for Babson. She is an all-time great in the best people category and is a fierce proponent for insuring our student-athletes had the very best opportunities for success."
Hired as the head women's basketball and soccer coach in 1984 after serving as a coach and athletics director at Mount Alvernia High School and the Brimmer & May School, Blinstrub is the only coach in Division III history to record more than 700 wins in basketball and 200 in soccer. Her teams captured at least a share of 16 regular season titles league titles and nine conference tournament championships on the hardwood.
Blinstrub led the Beavers to their first MAIAW State Championship in 1986, an ECAC Tournament berth in 1988 and the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1993. She guided the Green and White to its first New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament title in 1999 and helped her teams win 20 or more games 11 times in 14 full seasons from 2008-09 through 2022-23.
Babson captured the first of five consecutive conference championships in 2009 and won 85 consecutive games against NEWMAC opponents while claiming four straight regular season titles from 2010-13. Under Blinstrub's tutelage, the Beavers followed up the first NCAA Tournament sectional final appearance in school history in 2010 by winning their first 30 games before falling to eventual national champion Amherst College in the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight in 2011.
"Babson has been a part of my family and my home for so long," said Blinstrub. "I have so many wonderful memories to reflect on. The student-athletes that I have had the opportunity to coach and mentor will forever have a special place in my heart. I will always treasure all the relationships I have formed in the Babson community and beyond throughout my career."
Blinstrub led her 2017 squad to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 after winning conference regular season and tournament titles, and concluded her career on a high note by leading her 2022-23 team to a 26-6 record and the program's third NCAA quarterfinal before falling to Rhode Island College inside Staake Gymnasium.
Over her 39-year tenure, Blinstrub's teams finished with a winning record 34 times and recorded 20 or more victories on 16 occasions. A six-time conference and four-time regional coach of the year, Blinstrub's players earned 17 All-America awards, 41 all-region accolades and 66 all-conference honors.
In addition to her success on the sidelines, Blinstrub has served as Babson's Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) and has been a part of the department's senior staff for more than three decades. She was the Beavers' acting athletics director in 2005-06, was elevated to the position of senior associate athletics director in 2019 and has played a pivotal role in mentoring both fellow coaches and student-athletes while partnering with campus and outside groups to promote life and leadership skills throughout her time in Babson Park.
A national search for Babson's next women's basketball head coach will begin immediately.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT JUDY BLINSTRUB
"It is nearly impossible to capture the extraordinary impact over the course of her legendary career that Coach Blinstrub has had on Babson's athletics programs and our campus community. Like so many of her student athletes and coaches, she has helped to make me a better and more capable leader and person. I'm grateful for her example and blessed by her friendship."
-Dr. Lawrence P. Ward, Vice President, Dean of Campus Life at Babson
"Coach, mentor, leader are only a few of the adjectives that can describe Coach Blinstrub. Throughout her illustrious career she has left a mark on the game of basketball and countless student-athletes. Her coaching ability speaks for itself with over 700 career wins and numerous Coach of the Year honors. However, the hours behind the scenes - recruiting, scouting or even sitting down with players to simply ask how they are doing is the reason she and the program were so successful. More important than her sheer mastery of the game is the character that she has and the person that she is. She treats everyone with the utmost respect and loyalty. I know I can speak for myself, as well as anyone that has played under her, when I say that she has positively impacted many young women and shown what it takes to lead and be successful. Always a listening ear or willing to give advice about matters both on and off the court. Her departure after an extraordinary 39 years will leave a void, but her impact will continue through the lives she has touched. I express my deepest gratitude for the time she invested in my development as a person and player. Coach Blinstrub will go down as not only one of the best coaches in Babson history but in college basketball as a whole. She deserves all the recognition and celebrations. I wish her the best in retirement knowing that her legacy will last forever."
-Megan Bauman '23
"What makes Judy so great is not only her deep knowledge, understanding and passion for the game, it is the time she puts into getting to know her players both on and off the court. Judy gets that we are more than just ball players, we are individuals balancing life, school, family and so much more. And with that, she is committed to every single one of us being the best person we can possibly be on and off the court."
-Candace Burns '87
"Judy was my coach and is now my friend and co-worker at Babson. She has always had tremendous worth ethic, grace, determination, grit, focus, and integrity. The camaraderie of coaching basketball combined with Judy's basketball IQ and compassion for her players built the Babson women's basketball program into a top NEWMAC and NCAA Division III contender. During her 39-year commitment to the Babson Community, Judy was a beacon for women's athletics and often mentored many of the Babson coaches as well as her players. Judy is well-liked all over campus, from Deans and Buildings and Grounds and with everyone in between. She will be missed but it's time for her to put herself first and enjoy her retirement."
-Sandra Castaldini '93
"Judy is in a class by herself. The stats are astounding and nearly impossible to comprehend, whether its number of wins, conference championships, NCAA Tournament appearances or countless team and individual awards. But more important than that is the legacy she leaves as a teacher and a mentor to all who've passed through Babson over the last 39 years. I've been fortunate to have also called her a friend for over 25 years. To Judy - Congratulations! You've earned your retirement!"
-Michele Merten Diodati '95
"In the summer of 1984, Beth Wood and I, representing the women's soccer and the women's basketball teams respectively, met with the two finalists for the joint position of head women's soccer and basketball coach. After having two coaches in three years, our primary concern was finding a coach who would shepherd the incoming freshmen through their senior seasons. Although there is no guarantee, of the two candidates, we let the athletic director know that we thought Judy will work out well as a coach for both the women's soccer and basketball teams. Fast forward to 2023...Never in our wildest imaginations did we think Judy would still be on campus after 39 years - wow! Words fail in expressing our heartfelt thanks to Judy for EVERYTHING she has done for both women's athletics at Babson and the Babson community at large. You will be missed!"
-Patti Lambert '85
"Judy has had an immeasurable impact on the lives of so many at Babson. The lasting relationship I have with her and so many other alumni speaks to the quality and impact of the program she has built over her career. While her presence will be missed on the sideline, I am thrilled to sit next to her in the stands as she enters the next chapter."
-Colleen Burke Nicewicz '07
