ORONO – The start of the fall sports season is an especially busy time for the University of Maine athletic department.

This month, staff members are even busier than usual as the department finds itself a bit shorthanded after the departure of four people.

UMaine is in the process of trying to replace Dino Mattessich, Scott Lowenberg and Ellen Dempsey, all of whom have left the school to take new jobs.

Tracy Flynn, UMaine’s compliance director and NCAA senior woman administrator, also has moved on. However, her position has since been filled.

Scott Hobbs has officially joined the athletic department as the new assistant athletic director for compliance. Most recently, the 36-year-old Hobbs was an intern in the compliance department at Niagara University in New York.

He holds several college degrees, including a law degree.

Flynn left Aug. 31 to take a post as the assistant AD for compliance at Quinnipiac College in New York, which is much nearer to her family in Connecticut.

With three other jobs vacant, the remaining staff members have teamed up to share the workload, according to Joe Roberts, UMaine’s assistant athletic director for media relations.

Mattessich, formerly UMaine’s assistant AD for fiscal and administrative affairs, departed in May to take a job as the associate AD for internal operations at the University of Connecticut.

Roberts said Mattessich’s position, which has been changed to senior associate AD for advancement and finance, is expected to be filled next because that person is second in command under Director of Athletics Suzanne Tyler.

Lowenberg held a key position as UMaine’s assistant AD for marketing and promotions. However, he couldn’t resist the chance to take a similar job, close to his family, at Northern Illinois.

“Scott did a good job with the corporate sponsors and developed some good relationships,” Roberts said, “and we’re hoping to maintain those relationships with the people who are helping out.”

Dempsey was the assistant to the AD before taking a part-time coaching (volleyball) and teaching position at Hiram College in Ohio.

UMaine is searching for qualified candidates to fill the vacancies. In the meantime, assistant AD for development Eric Soncrant, media relations managers Pete Lefresne and Keith Bingham, promotions coordinator Lisa Ackley, media relations assistant Laura Reed, and assistant swim coach Mark Babin are among those pitching in to get the job done.

New addition to UMaine family

The extended UMaine athletics family has grown with the recent birth of Brent Owen Roberts.

Roberts, the son of assistant AD Joe Roberts and his wife Nancy, was born Aug. 30 at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. He checked in at 8 pounds, 2 ounces and measured 20 inches.

Older sister Cassandra, 2, enjoys getting diapers for her new brother when he needs a change.

College writer Pete Warner can be reached at 990-8240, toll-free at 800-310-8600 or by e-mail, pwarner@bangordailynews.net