Black Bears 15th in preseason poll UMaine one of five Atlantic 10 teams ranked by ESPN/USA Today

The University of Maine football team picked up another preseason top 25 ranking when it was picked 15th in the ESPN/USA Today Top 25 Coaches Poll Monday.

The Black Blacks (9-3 overall, 7-2 in Atlantic 10) were picked 13th last week in The Sports Network’s Preseason Top 25.

UMaine was one of five A-10 teams named in the ESPN/USA Today poll as William & Mary was ranked 10th, followed by Hofstra (13th), UMaine, Delaware (21) and Villanova (25.).

Montana was ranked first in the poll, followed by Appalachian State, Northern Iowa, Eastern Illinois and Georgia Southern.

The Black Bears open their season on Aug. 31 at 6 p.m. in a non-league game against Central Connecticut State at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland. The Bears begin league play the next week when they host William & Mary at Alfond Stadium in Orono on Sept. 7 at 6 p.m.

Kenny named cheering coach

Former UMaine cheerleader Melinda Kenny has been named the school’s new cheerleading coach, UMaine athletic director Paul Bubb announced Monday.

“I believe Melinda will be able to continue to build our program at the University of Maine,” Bubb said. “Melinda’s experience, having cheered at UMaine as well as having coached at both the high school and collegiate level, brings a good range of experience to the position.”

Kenny, a 1998 UMaine graduate, was the gymnastics coach at Old Town High School last season where she coached one Maine state champ and two other athletes who reached the championships.

Kenny was the cheering coach at the University of Southern Maine in 2000-01 when her squad was runnerup and champion of two competitions. She also coached the varsity, junior varsity and middle school teams at Bangor High School in 1999-2000.