Tradition draws McInerney to UM New coach starts post with Bears

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ORONO – Ann McInerney wasn’t looking for a job change.

The veteran coach, who led Merrimack College to a 60-10 record and back-to-back trips to the NCAA Division II women’s basketball Final Four in 2004 and 2005, had a veteran group returning next season.

Unbeknownst to McInerney, her name was on a list of 40 prospective candidates compiled by University of Maine athletic director Patrick Nero prior to the April 8 resignation of Sharon Versyp, who left to take the head coaching post at Indiana University.

On Friday, only one month later, McInerney was being introduced as the sixth women’s basketball coach in Black Bear history.

“It’s a very big day for me professionally and personally,” the 37-year-old McInerney told some 50 UMaine players, administrators, staff, boosters, and media during a Friday afternoon press conference in Dexter Lounge in the new Shawn Walsh Center at Alfond Arena.

“I think one of the reasons that this job was so appealing to me is the winning tradition that’s here,” she said. “I know when I came up to campus last week I got that amazing feeling that it’s a great fit for me.”

Nero said McInerney, a native of Worcester, Mass., agreed to a five-year contract and will earn a starting salary of $90,000, which Nero said would rank in the top 50 percent among America East women’s coaches.

Versyp, who guided the Bears to a 98-51 overall record and an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2004, earned $103,000 last season at UMaine.

Nero aggressively pursued McInerney, who conceded it was, in large part, his efforts that convinced her to come.

“Everything that he presented to me about the university, about the state of Maine, really has made this an exciting process for me,” she said.

She also thanked Versyp for providing valuable guidance about what she might expect to encounter as the UMaine coach.

McInerney said 1991 UMaine graduate and Auburn native Kathy Karlsson, who was the associate head coach at Merrimack, has applied for the same position at UMaine.

“She has been a very instrumental person in my coaching life,” said McInerney, who several times had the crowd laughing with humorous remarks.

Former UMaine captain and 2005 graduate Kim Corbitt, the America East Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year last season, also is expected to join the staff.

Team members were both relieved and excited to have their new coach on board.

“It was a long wait, but we’re all glad it’s over now,” said junior Bracey Barker of Bar Harbor. “I think they found the best match they could have possibly found.”

Junior Ashley Underwood of Benton enthusiastically endorsed McInerney.

“She automatically started out cracking jokes, so she kept it light and told us how excited she was for the job,” said Underwood, who described the interim period without a coach by saying, “We’ve kind of been like orphans for the past couple of weeks.”

McInerney developed a winning tradition at Merrimack. She led the Warriors to a 119-65 overall record and three NCAA appearances in six seasons.

“She’s won everywhere she’s been, but for us, she’s passionate and she’s compassionate,” Nero said. “She will coach, lead, charm, and teach these young ladies, and those that follow her, into being the best student-athletes that they can be, and that was the most important thing to us.”

McInerney brings some coaching maturity to UMaine. Prior to Merrimack, she spent five seasons as the top assistant at Bentley College, two as an assistant at Merrimack, and was the head coach at Nichols College (Mass.) for two years.

“She has coached in postseason tournaments, both on the conference and national level,” Nero said. “She has all that experience making those decisions; budget decisions, recruit decisions. When you can get a proven head coach, no matter what level, you have to take a hard look at it.”

Recruiting is ultimately the key to any coach’s success. McInerney realizes the importance of attracting the best instate players to UMaine.

“I think it’s very important to try to keep the Maine kids home and I know there’s great talent in the state,” she said. “It’s a great opportunity to play for the state university, so that’s going to be our primary focus.”

With strong New England recruiting ties, McInerney doesn’t expect to encounter any huge obstacles attracting Division I players to play at UMaine. She’ll be going after many of the same athletes.

In outlining her basketball philosophy, McInerney promised a fast-paced game predicated on pressure defense.

“I told the girls [Thursday] night: ‘Get in shape, get ready to run,'” McInerney chuckled. “I may not have been a very good defensive player in my day, but I would consider myself to be a very good defensive coach.”

“Coach Mac,” as the UMaine players are already calling her, said it was a teary scene Thursday in North Andover, Mass., where she broke the news to her Merrimack players.

“I left a program that I love dearly and will always hold a very special place in my heart, but I’m ready for the next chapter up here,” she said.

Former Merrimack standout Morgan McEwen of Westbrook recalled her coach fondly.

“The program was struggling when she arrived, but she completely changed the attitude of the program,” McEwen said. “She demands the best from her players. She also is a lot of fun to play for and we as players wanted to play hard for her.”