BANGOR – John Winkin lives and breathes baseball.

He has been involved with the sport for virtually all of his 84 years and he will be continuing that after being elevated from assistant coach to head coach at Husson College.

He will replace John Kolasinski, who resigned to become the head baseball coach at Siena Heights University (Mich.).

Winkin, who spent 20 years as the head baseball coach at Waterville’s Colby College before directing the University of Maine’s baseball fortunes for 22 years, has spent eight seasons as the assistant at Husson. He is also the vice president for sports leadership at the Bangor-based school.

“Everything has its peaks and valleys. But there is nothing like competing. That’s what the world is all about for me,” said Winkin, who has compiled a 934-670-11 record.

He also said one of the greatest thrills of his career occurred “when I was asked by these [Husson] players to be their coach.

“We will do everything we can not to let the school down. We have an opportunity this year to do something special,” said Winkin.

“We got together as a team and said ‘He’s always been here, why not support him?,” said Husson third baseman Josh Ferguson. “There’s no better man around.”

Ferguson said Winkin’s age never entered the discussion.

“Age doesn’t matter, knowledge does. And he has knowledge. No one can take that away from him. He’s forgotten more in his life than I’ll ever know,” said Ferguson.

Winkin said they will “aim high and do our best to get there.”

Winkin is a member of seven Halls of Fame including the American Baseball Association’s hall. He led Maine to six College World Series appearances and they finished third on two occasions.

He donated $250,000 from the sale of his summer camp to improving the baseball field at Husson and it now bears his name: The John Winkin Baseball Complex.

The surface is made of FieldTurf and renovations are on-going as the Class A Northeast League’s Bangor Lumberjacks will play there next summer.

There will be lights and a new grandstand with eventual capabilities of holding 3,000 people.

Winkin had tremendous praise for Kolasinski, who hired Winkin after his contract wasn’t renewed at Maine. The two are close friends.

“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for JK. He’s a legend. He’ll be tough to follow. He did everything to keep the Husson program afloat [for 15 years]. He was a tireless administrator and coach,” said Winkin.

Winkin said he hopes to carry on the tradition and build upon it.

“JK and all the guys before him laid a great foundation. I’m going to do my part to not only continue the tradition but to help it grow,” said Winkin.

He said he intends to recruit heavily in-state, particularly eastern Maine.

“I’m a big state of Maine guy,” said Winkin. “I feel it’s very important to get the best players from this area. Hopefully, people will want to come and play at Husson.”

Pitching will be his top priority.

“You can’t win without it,” said Winkin.

He hopes to have assistant Dave Paul return to help him but said Paul’s availability may be in question due his expanding role with Wight’s Sporting Goods in Bangor.

“He has meant a lot to this team. He’s great with young kids. He has so much patience and a good feel for the game,” said Winkin.