Dick Whitmore, who has guided his 30 Colby College men’s basketball teams to 525 wins, has taken a sabbatical from the school where he is also the athletic director.

Whitmore has taken the year off to be with an ailing family member and said he plans to return next year to assume both roles.

Marcella Zalot has taken over as interim athletic director and Roy Dow, Whitmore’s long-time assistant, will be the basketball coach.

Zalot had been the associate athletic director and senior women’s administrator at the Waterville-based school.

Whitmore has compiled a record of 525-236 for a winning percentage of .690.

He has been the Maine small college coach of the year six times, including last season, and he guided last year’s team to the NESCAC championship. His teams have won the CBB [Colby-Bowdoin-Bates] title 26 times.

Bengals schedule special events

The University of Maine-Fort Kent will introduce its men’s basketball team to the public on Thursday during “Bengal Basketball Madness.”

The event consists of a intrasquad scrimmage that will also feature a dunk show and shootout. It is scheduled for 6-7:30 p.m.

“This is a good opportunity to introduce the team to the local community and surrounding area,” coach Derek Johnson said. “These players do so much more than just play basketball. They are all-around students and are involved in the local community. They are representatives of our school and carry our school name wherever they travel.”

The Bengals will begin their second year of competition in the Maine Athletic Conference this season.

Among the key returnees are Jason Bray of Lewiston, Aaron Clark of Hertford, England, Robert Miller of West Palm Beach, Fla., Stafford Bente of London, England, and Andrew Clavette of Madawaska.