Fairfield vs. Notre Dame may be the most appealing NCAA Women’s Tournament game this week. It’s a matchup the Stags feel they can win with excellent guard play.
ATLANTIC CITY — Fairfield head coach Carly Thibault-DuDonis has been a rising coaching star for some time now. In her fourth year as the Stags’ head coach, she has taken the basketball program to the NCAA tournament in three of the past four years. With basketball in her veins, Thibault-Dudonis is the daughter of Mike Thibault, a successful WNBA coach with the Connecticut Sun and Washington Mystics.
The Wisconsin Badgers and Rutgers Scarlet Knights gauged her interest in coaching their respective basketball programs, and she declined. So, it wasn’t surprising when Daly Dose of Hoops managing editor Jaden Daly asked Thibault-DuDonis recently why she decided to stay at Fairfield. She said she loves being around people at the university, from the administration to the coaches to the players. She also loves the atmosphere that comes with her job.
It’s not crazy to say Thibault-DuDonis could be a Fairfield lifer the way Tricia Fabbri is at Quinnipiac, who has been at that school for 31 years. There’s no reason to leave when the basketball team is playing in the beautiful new Leo D. Mahoney Arena. She also has NIL money to work with in getting players.
Carly Thibault-DuDonis cuts down the net (photo, Fairfield University)
No, Thibault-DuDonis will not get the best players Geno Auriemma will get at Storrs. However, she has the ability to cultivate talent and build a strong team culture, which can lead to unexpected successes. With Thibault-DuDonis’s leadership and vision, Fairfield’s program could continue to grow and thrive in the competitive landscape of college basketball.
The likable Fairfield coach creates an atmosphere that fosters success, and she is loyal to them. That matters at a mid-major school, where coaches often use that level as a pit stop to reach a higher one. There is a comfort level for players who are creatures of habit, making it much easier for them to stay than to transfer.
If Fabbri can lead Quinnipiac to make a Sweet 16 appearance, why can’t Thibault-DuDonis do the same for Fairfield?
It’s what drives her every day. She’s not just satisfied with Fairfield being in the tournament. It’s about creating shining moments with a March Madness run.
Maybe this is the year. As good as Notre Dame is, the program is not as elite as it was under successful coach Muffet McGraw. A first-round win against the Fighting Irish is not out of the question for the Stags. This is a fundamentally sound team that can defend and rebound, and they don’t have to rely on 3’s to create offense.
A tournament win or a run can bring better recruits, making Thibault-DuDonis’ job even easier. That’s why the clash with ND is important.
The Stags have built a dynasty in the MAAC. The job is not done, though, which motivates Thibault-DuDonis to stay.
Fairfield vs. Notre Dame, Saturday, 2 PM, ESPN (ND -8.5)
