Andy Haskell, a native of Topsham, has been hired as the women’s soccer and women’s lacrosse coach at Thomas College in Waterville.

Haskell, who most recently was the head men’s and women’s soccer coach at Ripon College in Wisconsin, will take over a women’s soccer program that is in the rebuilding stages. Lacrosse is a first-year sport at Thomas.

“Our primary emphasis will be to increase recruiting and competitiveness within the conference,” Haskell said of the Terrier women’s soccer program.

Haskell, who received a B.A. in history from Lake Forest College (Ill.) and is close to earning a Master’s in sports medicine form the United States Sports Academy in Daphne, Ala., is looking forward to getting back into lacrosse.

He guided the girls varsity program at Mount Ararat for two seasons.

“Obviously, any time that you undertake a new program there are plenty of challenges,” Haskell said. “I see a great opportunity here to build a successful lacrosse program.”

Haskell said Thomas will put together a squad this spring and play about six club-level lacrosse games with the hope of attaining varsity status in 2005.