Chicago Bulls Asst. Coach, MIT researcher – Both WA Alums – To Be Honored

 

The Worcester Academy Varsity Club will honor two alumni this year at its annual Varsity Club Dinner on April 28.  Those receiving 2016 Varsity Club Awards are Dr. Daniela Faas, Ph.D. ’00 and Michael Wilhelm ’86.  Dr. Faas is a researcher and instructor in Mechanical Engineering with Harvard College and MIT.  Michael Wilhelm is an NBA assistant coach with the Chicago Bulls.

A reception in the head of school’s home, Abercrombie House, will be held at 6 p.m. in advance of the dinner.  Dinner will be held at 7 p.m. in The Megaron. Varsity Club Awards will be awarded at that time.

Nearly every year since 1965, the Academy has honored a graduate who, while at the Academy, excelled in sports, and then has gone on to experience success in athletics and in life. The honoree is selected from nominations submitted by alumni and other members of the school community.

Worcester Academy is honored to present Dr. Daniela Faas ’00 and Mr. Michael Wilhelm ’86 with the 2016 Varsity Club Awards.

Daniela is the senior preceptor in design-based instruction at the School of Engineering and Applied Science at Harvard University and a research affiliate in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at MIT. She teaches courses in Mechanical Engineering and engineering design. Her research focuses on developing low cost immersive Virtual Reality applications in Mechanical Engineering and in design methodology for engineering education.

Daniela received her B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, B.A. in International Relations and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering at Bucknell University and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and Human-Computer Interaction at Iowa State University.

Daniela’s foundation for excellence was set at the Academy through exemplary academic achievement and great success in the athletic arena. She earned varsity letters in three sports – soccer, swimming and softball. Her passion was swimming.  Team MVP in 1999 and 2000, Daniela was undefeated over a two-year period in the 500 freestyle and undefeated her senior year in both the 200 and 100 breaststroke. 

Daniela had a distinguished swim and water polo career at Bucknell and at Iowa State. She was a four-time All-Patriot League swimmer who set league records in two events and school records in four. In water polo, Daniela was a 3-year letter winner and 4-year Player-Coach of the Iowa State women’s club team. She was named her team’s Most Valuable Swimmer, received the 2004 Margaret L. Bryan Award as the best dual athlete at Bucknell, and was twice the recipient of Bucknell University’s International Awareness Award.

Mike Wilhelm is currently in his 14^th season as a coach with the Chicago Bulls and in his 21^st overall in the NBA. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Mike attended St. Ignatius High School prior to enrolling at Worcester Academy for a postgraduate year. During that year Mike excelled in the classroom and was a two-sport star. He captained the Varsity Basketball team and earned the Most Valuable Player award in Track & Field, a sport in which he remains the Academy’s record holder in the 110-yard hurdles. Mike credits two Worcester Academy coaches, Tom Blackburn and Mike Stubljar, for inspiring his passion for coaching.

Mike attended Southampton College on Long Island, where he excelled in basketball, led his team as a two-year captain and earned his B.A. in History. Mike earned a Master’s Degree in Sports Administration from Ohio University, then began his career in Sweden’s professional league with the Sundsvall Dragons in 1992.

In 1993, Mike entered the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers as a video coordinator. In 1999 he became the team’s advance scout.  During that time, Mike was also an assistant coach for the WNBA’s Cleveland Rockers, helping lead them to the Eastern Conference Championship in 1998. Mike worked the 2002 season as a regional advance scout for the Denver Nuggets. Since 2002 Mike has served the Bulls in several capacities, including his current position as Assistant Coach.  Mike’s stature as one of the longest-tenured NBA assistants is a testament to the impact he has on his players and his teams.

Past Varsity Club honorees include: Dave Gavitt, former general manager of the Boston Celtics; Donald E. “Dee” Rowe ’47, director of athletics and basketball coach; Bill Toomey ’57, Olympic decathlon champion; Armand LaMontagne ’58, noted sculptor; Steve Adelman ’64, Boston College hall of famer; Bill Reynolds ’64, longtime sports writer and columnist; Chet Gladchuk ’69, U.S. Naval Academy director of athletics; Yvonne Goldsberry ’78, pioneer of women’s athletics at WA and a member of the Brown University Hall of Fame; Rick Carlisle ’79, head coach, Dallas Mavericks; Stephanie Abodeely Carlson ’80, former head women’s soccer coach at WPI; Joe Philbin, head coach, Miami Dolphins; Donn Nelson ’82, general manager, Dallas Mavericks; and Mike Malone ’90, head coach, Sacramento Kings.