W. Cager Asst. Coaches Resign

The two assistant coaches for the Harvard women's basketball team resigned from their posts earlier this week following the conclusion of the cagers' 13-13 winter campaign.

Assistant Coach Beth Wheatley Doran leaves the Crimson after six years with the squad, while fellow Assistant Coach Dale Snyder departs after a one-year stint.

In recent weeks two other coaches have also resigned from Harvard. Men's soccer Coach Jape Shattuck and women's soccer and men's lacrosse Coach Bob Scalise have both announced intentions to leave their respective positions to pursue other interests.

"I'm very upset, but I understand," cager Coach Kathy Delaney Smith said, referring to the departure of her two assistant coaches. "They just wanted to make a change."

"In Beth's case," Delaney Smith added, "where she's been doing so much recruiting work for so long, it's the kind of job where burn-out definitely has an effect. Dale is interested in pursuing a head coaching position."

Delaney Smith said that she knew about Wheatley Doran's decision for quite awhile, but waited until after the season to make the announcement "because the athletes respect Beth so strongly."

"Beth is very talented, so there are many avenues she can research," said Delaney Smith, who plans to start looking for replacements after the women's basketball NCAA Final Four next week.

In addition to her assistant coaching job. Wheatley Doran--a 1979 graduate of the University of New Hampshire--also worked in promotions, fundraising and sales for the cagers, although her major efforts were in recruiting.

Snyder came to the women's basketball program after coaching high school and college basketball in Wisconsin for the past several seasons.

Neither Wheatley Doran nor Snyder were available for comment.