UM hires Adams Benner gains promotion

Don Adams, a former member of the women’s basketball staff at the University of Wisconsin, has been named an assistant to University of Maine women’s basketball coach Sharon Versyp, while current assistant coach Jody Benner has been promoted to associate head coach, Versyp announced Wednesday.

Adams spent the 2002-03 season on the Badger staff of Jane Albright, for whom he coordinated tape exchange, edited game and practice video and assisted with scouting and recruiting.

He also served as an assistant coach at Clarke College in Dubuque, Iowa. and was the assistant boys basketball coach at Cassville High School in Cassville, Wis.

“His knowledge, attention to detail, game scouting and film editing will bring more expertise to our staff,” Versyp said.

Benner, a 10-year veteran of the UMaine program, will continue to coordinate the Black Bears’ recruiting and scheduling while assisting with scouting, game preparation and player development.

“In the last three years since Jody has been working for me he has shown great support, honesty and growth as a top assistant coach in the country,” Versyp said.

USM’s Costigan resigns

University of Southern Maine men’s basketball coach Dan Costigan has resigned to pursue a job in the private sector, the school announced Wednesday.

USM athletic director Al Bean accepted Costigan’s resignation Aug. 17.

Costigan was USM’s head coach for seven years. The Huskies went 56-119 in that time. He led the Huskies to the championship game of the 2000 Little East Conference tournament and was named coach of the year for the 1999-2000 season.

Costigan will become director of basketball operations at the newly formed Hancock Sports Academy, which will be a year-round facility and program in southern Maine that will focus on building skills.

UMaine field hockey picked third

America East field hockey coaches have picked Maine to finish third this season, according to a preseason poll released Wednesday.

Maine received 26 points in the poll. Northeastern, which reached the quarterfinals of last year’s NCAA tournament, earned 36 votes for first place. New Hampshire (28 votes) was second.

The Black Bears went 16-3 overall (3-2 in conference play) last season and reached the America East championship game for the first time in school history. Terry Kix was named the conference’s coach of the year.

Howe among volleyball captains

Brittany Howe, a former Narraguagus High School standout, has been named one of three captains for the UMaine volleyball team this fall.

Carmen Gabriel and Alaina Kleparek are the other two captains.

Howe, a junior middle blocker and a Columbia native, recorded 49 kills in 64 games last season and was third on the team with 40 total blocks.

Gabriel, also a junior, was named to the All-America East first team as a setter after averaging 8.95 assists per game. Kleparek, a senior outside hitter, played in 79 games last season, averaging 1.03 kills per game.