GO Vikings! GO Vikings!

  Carmen Dolfo

Carmen Dolfo

Player Profile

Position:
Head Coach

05/18/2013

deKubber, Stevenson, Swanson and Thomas inducted into WWU Athletics Hall of Fame

Foursome brings hall's membership to 125 in ceremony at Bellingham Golf and Country Club

04/23/2013

2012-13 REVIEW: Vikings battle all the way to national semifinals in emotional season

WWU finishes 29-4, wins GNAC and West Regional titles.

04/16/2013

Dolfo named CaptainU Division II National Coach of the Year

Directed Vikings to 29-4 record and national semifinals

04/09/2013

Dolfo Selected GNAC Coach of Month For March

A season to remember for Vikings

04/08/2013

WWU women's basketball team helps make dad's dream come true

Commemorative patch takes back seat to more permanent patch for Vikings

360-650-7374, carmen.dolfo@wwu.edu

In her 23rd season as head coach at WWU is Carmen Dolfo, who was the CaptainU Division II National Coach of the Year last season. She is an historic figure in WWU Athletics, already mentoring 13 All-Americans and 48 conference all-stars during her tenure.

Dolfo, who is in her 18th year as WWU's senior women's administrator, is the first person and one of just two overall to represent WWU in national tournament competition as a player, assistant coach and head coach in any sport, being a part of 593 WWU victories in those three roles. She has coached 13 All-Americans and 48 conference all-stars during her tenure.

Dolfo's career record of 475-173 puts her No.13 among active NCAA II coaches in victories and her winning percentage of 73.3 ranks No.12. She ranks No.24 in winning percentage among NCAA II coaches all-time and No.31 in wins.

Dolfo became WWU's head coach in 1990 after four seasons as an assistant coach. She has directed the Vikings to 17 20-win seasons and 21 post-season appearances, WWU reaching the semifinals of the Elite Eight in 2000 and 2013.

Directed WWU to 29-4 record in 2012-13, winning Great Northwest Athletic Conference regular- season and tournament titles, West Regional championship and reaching NCAA II final four; and to 27-4 ledger in 1999-2000, winning Pacific West Conference and West Regional titles and reaching semifinals at NCAA II Elite Eight.

Besides the two final four appearances, Dolfo guided WWU to NCAA II West Regional semifinals in 1999, 2001 and 2006, and the first round at regionals in 2003, 2007, 2010 and 2011; and to the NAIA Division I National Tournament quarterfinals in 1996 and first round in 1998.

Selected to the Vikings' all-time basketball team for the school's first 100 years, Dolfo was named WBCA NCAA II West Region Coach of the Year in 2010, 2011 and 2013, Great Northwest Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2002, 2006, 2011and 2013; Little All-Northwest Coach of the Year in 2000 and Pacific Northwest Athletic Conference (PNWAC) Coach of the Year in 1995 and 1996.

Dolfo came to WWU in 1984 after spending two seasons competing at Biola University, and played two years of basketball for the Vikings, earning NAIA All-America honors as a senior, averaging 16.8 points a game. She also lettered three years at WWU as a setter in volleyball.

In her four years of basketball, Dolfo scored 1,757 points and grabbed 896 rebounds.

After her playing career ended with the Vikings reaching the quarterfinals of the NAIA National Tournament in 1986, Dolfo was an assistant coach under Lynda Goodrich from 1986 to 1990. The Vikings had a 95-28 record (.778) in that time, and again reached the NAIA quarterfinals in 1989.

Dolfo is in the third year of a second three-year term on the WBCA Board of Directors. She has served on the Kodak All-American Selection Committee as well as the WBCA national rating committee and the West Region rating committee.

The 48-year old Dolfo grew up in Penticton, B.C., where she led Penticton High School to the provincial championship as a senior. She earned a bachelor's degree from Western in 1986 and a master's in student personnel administration from WWU in 1996. Dolfo and husband John Garrison have two daughters, Kennedy 13 and Aspen 11, and son John Grey 9.

In 23rd season as head coach and 18th year as senior women's administrator ... CaptainU Division II National Coach of the Year last season ... First person in any sport and one of just two overall to represent WWU in national tournament competition as player, assistant coach and head coach, being part of 593 WWU victories in those three roles ... In third year of second three-year term on Women's Basketball Coaches Association Board of Directors ... Has served on Kodak All-American Selection Committee as well as WBCA National rating committee and West Region rating committee ... Is winningest coach in school history with record of 475-173 record ... Has coached 13 All-Americans and 48 conference all-stars ... Ranks No.13 among active NCAA II coaches in victories and winning percentage of 72.5 is No.12 ... Ranks No.24 in winning percentage among NCAA II coaches all-time and No.31 in wins ... Has directed Vikings to 17 20-win seasons and 21 post-season appearances ... Directed WWU to 29-4 record in 2012-13, winning Great Northwest Athletic Conference regular- season and tournament titles, West Regional championship and reaching NCAA II final four; and to 27-4 ledger in 1999-2000, winning Pacific West Conference and West Regional titles and reaching semifinals at NCAA II Elite Eight ... Besides final four appearances, guided WWU to NCAA II West Regional semifinals in 1999, 2001 and 2006, and first round in 2003, 2007, 2010 and 2011; and to NAIA Division I National Tournament quarterfinals in 1996 and first round in 1998 ... Selected to Vikings' all-time basketball team for school's first 100 years ... Named WBCA NCAA II West Region Coach of the Year in 2010, 2011 and 2013, Great Northwest Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2002, 2006, 2011and 2013; Little All-Northwest Coach of the Year in 2000 and Pacific Northwest Athletic Conference (PNWAC) Coach of the Year in 1995 and 1996 ... Top assistant at WWU for four years (1986-90), the Vikings having a 95-28 (77.2 percent) record during that stretch ... Received bachelor's degree in physical education in 1986 and master's degree in student personnel administration in 1999, both from WWU ... Named to three All-American teams in 1985-86 as well as earning NAIA National all-tournament (second-team) and District 1 co-Player of the Year honors ... Scored 1,757 points and grabbed 896 rebounds during her four-year career, playing first two seasons at Biola University CA ... Coached by Lynda Goodrich at Western and Betty Norman at Biola, both NAIA National Hall of Famers and 400-game winners ... Also lettered three years as setter in volleyball at WWU ... All-Province selection as prep, leading Penticton High School to British Columbia championship ... Served six years as member of NAIA Kodak All-America Selection Committee ... 48 years old ... She and husband John Garrison, who played basketball at Eastern Washington University, have two daughters, Kennedy 13 and Aspen 11, and son John Grey 9.

2013 WBB Regionals
 

  Lynda Goodrich Classic 2012
 
West Region Crossover Classic 2012
 

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