UMaine football assistant back in Tennessee as head coach

MARTIN, Tenn. – Matt Griffin, a fourth-year assistant football coach at the University of Maine, has been named the new head football coach at the University of Tennessee at Martin.

“Matt Griffin brings a wide range of experiences and a strong work ethic to UT-Martin,” said Phil Dane, UT-Martin’s athletic director. “Matt’s positive reputation from his previous experience at UT-Martin was a big factor in his selection. He recruits quality athletes and he is very committed to our athletic and academic mission.

“In addition to these qualities, he has been very active in the development of a strong University of Maine football program.”

Griffin just completed his fourth year at UMaine and helped guide the Black Bears to the Division I-AA playoffs, where they lost in the second round to Georgia Southern.

Griffin completed his third season coaching the offensive line.

He also recruited in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, central and western Massachusetts, and central New Jersey.

Before going to UMaine, Griffin served as offensive coordinator at Tennessee-Martin, also a I-AA school, and also coached the team’s receivers and quarterbacks.

Griffin is a 1992 University of New Hampshire graduate and served as team captain and led the league in passing efficiency as a senior. He held several passing records at UNH when he left the university.

Griffin also served as an assistant coach at Plymouth State, Richmond, and Northeastern.

Griffin will be introduced as the new coach at Tennessee-Martin Thursday morning.

Maine’s Consolante honored

Sophomore Linda Consolante of the University of Maine women’s soccer team was named to the NSCAA/Adidas Northeast Regional Third Team, according to an announcement Tuesday by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

Consolante, named America East Defender of the Year last month, was the core of one of the top defenses in America East. At the sweeper position, Consolante led the UMaine defense to seven shutouts, and allowed only 121 shots, with 44 shots on goal.

A two-time all-conference first-team pick, Consolante started all 15 games and recorded 14 shots.