ORONO – John Winkin was doing his best to mask his disappointment.

Ten years ago, the University of Maine baseball coach was leading his Black Bears to their fifth College World Series appearance in six years. It was their last appearance in the CWS as the NCAA rearranged the regional tournament format the following year to include two top 16 teams in each regional.

Winkin will no longer be leaning over in the corner of a Black Bear dugout, keeping his scorebook and intensely watching every pitch as if it were his last.

In the wake of four losing seasons over the past five years, University of Maine Athletic Director Sue Tyler and President Fred Hutchinson agreed that it was time for a change and announced that Winkin’s contract won’t be renewed.

In addressing the media at the Dexter Lounge in Alfond Arena, Winkin continually stated that he wanted to handle the situation “in a classy manner.”

He refused to point fingers and didn’t want to dwell on the reasons for his demise.

“I will not deny in any way that I wanted to continue coaching. I did not resign. I did not retire,” said Winkin, who has been inducted into three Halls of Fame, including the American Baseball Coaches Association’s.

“My contract simply has not been renewed. I’m not going to deal with that except to say that has been the path that has been chosen and let’s move on with it. That’s the only thing to do. I’m here to do the best I can for the University of Maine’s baseball program between now and the time that I finish, which is the end of August and then we’ll go from there.”

Tyler said there wasn’t any one particular reason for her decision.

“I looked at everything. I looked at the total program,” said Tyler. “Coach Winkin had a long and distinguished career. He has taken the program to the heights that it has been. He continued the tradition of Jack Butterfield. He had a great run. But it’s time for a change. So that’s what we’re going to do.”

“It was a very tough decision, it was an agonizing decision. And I just think it’s in the best interest of everyone right now that we not continue the contract,” added Tyler.

Tyler said she discussed with Winkin the idea of giving him one more year, a “celebration season” for him, but he rejected the idea.

Larry Mahaney, one of the baseball program’s primary financial boosters and one of Winkin’s closest friends, said he feels bad for Winkin, but totally understands the university’s position.

“It’s obvious that the university is doing what it feels is best for the program, best for the school, and best for the kids. It’s their call,” said Mahaney, who indicated that he will continue to support the program under the new coach. “John is a warrior. He is a great resource for the state. He put his heart and soul into it. But it had to happen sometime. I just feel bad that he isn’t going to have his farewell tour.”

“There’s an Irish blessing that says you need to have hindsight to know where you’ve been, foresight to know where you’re going, and insight to know when you’ve gone too far,” added Mahaney.

The 76-year-old Winkin compiled a record of 642-430-3 during his 22 years at Maine. That gives him an overall college coaching mark of 934-670-11. He had spent 20 years as the head coach at Waterville’s Colby College prior to coming to Maine in 1974.

He is 14th among active Division I coaches in victories.

However, Maine has gone 111-157-1 over the last five seasons, including a 14-76 record on the spring trips in which the Bears have been thoroughly overmatched by nationally ranked teams.

And freshman ace Pete Fisher, frustrated by the lousy weather and the team’s misfortunes, has announced his decision to transfer.

“I’ve told both [assistants] Mike [Coutts] and Jay [Kemble] I will do everything I can in the transition to help them. I want to help them,” added the Englewood, N.J., native, who hopes one of the two will succeed him.

“I love the Maine baseball program,” continued Winkin, whose voice then became louder and more emphatic. “I gave it my life. You know I did.

“And I did everything I could, in the time I was here, to make it a strong program. Obviously, sure I wanted to go on. But I’m not going on. So let’s move ahead. I gave it my best. That’s all I can say.”

Winkin, a Duke University graduate and former lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy during World War II, said he wants to continue coaching baseball.

“I’m going to go on. You bet your sweet life I am. If anybody is looking for a coach, I’m ready. Don’t think I can’t coach,” said a defioffered to coach at the high school, American Legion, or college level. “I love the game of baseball. It’s been my life.”

In a prepared statement, Hutchinson praised Winkin for directing a program that served as a “source of pride for people all over the state and as a model for others that have enjoyed similar success.”

He added that throughout Winkin’s speaking engagements, he “raised the aspirations of Maine’s young people to go on to college and excel in whatever they choose to pursue. Coach Winkin’s legacy at UMaine is much more than College World Series appearances and major league players; it’s the lesson that the people of Maine, and the University of Maine, can be competitive at anything to which they commit themselves.”

Sophomore players Ronny Coombs and Marc Halsted said they were surprised by the news and that they respected Winkin.

“He’s done tremendous things for the program. I hope the memories [of him] are good and haven’t been marred by the past few years,” said Halsted. “He certainly does things his own way. And things were all business with him. That [philosophy] certainly had its place. It was successful for a long time.”

“I think he was well-respected by the players,” said Coombs. “He treated us pretty well. I still think he’s a good coach. But I guess, sooner or later, he had to get done.”

“His record speaks for itself,” said North Atlantic Conference Commissioner and former Maine Athletic Director Stu Haskell. “We’ll miss him.”