ORONO – Rich Nagy, a former University of Maine football assistant coach, has been appointed the team’s defensive coordinator, the school announced Wednesday.

Nagy served as outside linebackers coach and special teams assistant on the Black Bear staff from 1990-92 prior to gaining additional experience at other programs.

“Rich has a great football background and knowledge of our program and our defense,” UMaine head coach Jack Cosgrove said. “He has impressive recruiting ties throughout the Northeast and he also had a strong desire to return to the state of Maine and the Black Bear football program.”

Nagy replaces Scott Lakatos, now a defensive assistant at Rutgers.

Nagy’s most recent position was recruiting coordinator and defensive backs coach at Fordham University of the Patriot League. He was on the Ram football staff for three seasons.

In 1997, Nagy was a member of the South Dakota football staff, serving as special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach. He joined the South Dakota staff after serving with former Fordham head coach Ken O’Keefe at Allegheny College from 1992-97.

A 1987 graduate of Trinity College (Conn.), Nagy lettered in football and baseball, earning MVP honors in football in 1986. He led the team in rushing for three years and currently ranks second on the Trinity career touchdown list.

Nagy and his wife Erika (Maine ’91), have a 4-year-old daughter, Jordan. Rich is also the older brother of Charles Nagy, a three-time All-Star pitcher for the Cleveland Indians.

Clark, McLaughlin honored

Sam Clark of Colby College and Kate McLaughlin of Bates College have been named the players of the year for the New England Small College Athletic Conference.

Clark, who earned second-team honors last season, averaged a conference-best 20.4 points per game. He also averaged 9.3 rebounds per game and 1.9 blocks in leading Colby to the NESCAC tourney semifinal round.

McLaughlin, a first-team selection last season, averaged 15.8 points per game and 8.5 rebounds while leading Bates to a 7-2 league record.

Lora Trenkle of Bowdoin was named the league’s rookie of the year and was also a second-team selection. Trenkle, a former standout at George Stevens Academy in Blue Hill, averaged 13.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. She shot a conference-best 88.2 percent from the free-throw line.

Szabo commits to UM hockey

Center Peter Szabo, who played for Slovakia in the World Junior Hockey Championships, has verbally committed to attend the University of Maine in the fall.

The 5-foot-8, 170-pound Szabo plays for the Danville Wings of the North American Hockey League and has 11 goals and 39 assists in 30 games. He is third in the league in assists and is tied for 10th in points.

“This is my fifth year in Danville and we’ve had 32 Division I scholarship players and he’s the best player we’ve ever had,” said Danville coach and general manager Josh Mervis, a former University of Maine assistant coach.

“He was selected the top forward for Slovakia in the World Juniors,” added Mervis. “He has unbelievable vision and he’s the fastest player I’ve ever had. He will be one of the fastest at Maine in the fall. He makes passes other players can’t see or complete. He reminds me a lot of Steve Kariya when he was a freshman. In addition to being very fast, he makes plays and he’s fearless.”

Mervis said the 19-year-old Szabo turned down scholarship offers from Nebraska-Omaha, Miami, St. Cloud State, Denver, Ferris State, Bowling Green, and Clarkson.

Szabo, who hails from Nitra, Slovakia, will have to pass his SATs.

Szabo will be the second Slovakian player on Maine’s roster as sophomore center Robert Liscak hails from Skalica, Slovakia.