Lee rounds out UM hoop staff

ORONO – The University of Maine men’s basketball team once again has its full complement of coaches, as head coach John Giannini announced the hiring of Randy Lee on Monday.

Lee will fill the third assistant position formerly held by former Black Bear star Andy Bedard. Bedard is playing professionally in Portugal in the same league with former UMaine teammates Allen Ledbetter and Nate Fox.

Giannini said Lee is a tireless worker who will be a good addition to his staff in a position that requires a coach who can perform a variety of duties.

“Randy has just done all these things before,” Giannini said.

“Last year, as a matter of fact, when Mike Mennenga left for Buffalo and the position was open, he made it very clear at that time that this is a place that he would have liked to have worked.”

Lee, a 1995 graduate of the University of South Carolina, worked as an assistant at Centenary College in Shreveport, La., last season.

He also served as a collegiate assistant at Towson from 1997 to 1999, and at the University of Miami and Palm Beach Atlantic College. He also coached professionally with the Florida Sharks of the USBL.

Lee is familiar with the Black Bears not only through his association with former America East foe Towson: He also coached current Black Bear captain Derrick Jackson at Richland Northeast High School in South Carolina.

“He’s just a worker, detail, give-him-something-to-do-and-he’ll-get-it-done guy,” Giannini said.

Doyle top Black Bear at Fox Run

At first glance Mary Kariya may have seemed to be the fastest UMaine men’s hockey player in Sunday’s Terry Fox Run – he finished 57th in 22 minutes, 22 seconds.

As it turns out, a player who has yet to suit up for the Black Bears left Kariya in his dust.

Frank Doyle, a goaltender from Guelph, Ontario, finished 22nd overall in 19:09. Doyle played Major Junior hockey last year for the Cambridge Winterhawks of the Ontario Hockey Association.

Doyle will practice with the team but won’t be eligible to play in games until the 2002-2003 season.

College writer John Holyoke can be reached at 990-8214, toll-free at 1-800-310-8600 or via e-mail at jholyoke@bangordailynews.net