The thought occurred to me the other day just how long the shadow has been for UMaine baseball coach Paul Kostacopoulos to operate under since he came to Orono in 1997.

Let’s face it. All this guy has done is win since he left Providence College. When you take the head baseball job at Maine, you are not only replacing Dr. John Winkin, you are also replacing the guy he replaced, the late Jack Butterfield.

I have fond memories of traveling by bicycle to Orono in an attempt to purchase a copy of coach Butterfield’s recently-completed coaching book on baseball. There we were, three kids looking to not only meet the coach who had taken his Black Bear baseball team to a third-place finish in the 1964 College World Series in Omaha, Neb., but to also purchase his book.

I’m sure we stammered and stuttered our way through the brief conversation until the time came to pay for the thing, which was laid out in loose-leaf notebook form. As we reached for our billfolds – that’s what wallets were called back in those days – the coach rubbed his chin and said, “A dollar apiece, boys.” Well, you could have knocked us over with a feather.

Other memories from that era include having talented Maine infielder Dave “Zippy” Thompson as a student teacher at the old Fifth Street Junior High School in Bangor. What a time we had firing questions at the likeable UMaine standout. Having one of Butterfield’s boys in school with us each day was almost too much joy to handle.

Then there’s John Winkin.

I first met the storied coach at a Bangor Rotary Club meeting in 1978. I was flattered to be speaking to the civic group about ethics in coaching. The very first person to greet me when I was finished was none other than the venerable former Colby College of Waterville and then-University of Maine baseball coach, John Winkin.

I have never forgotten that first meeting, and I’ve mentioned it several times to the good doctor since then. He was, and is always a gentleman.

I always like telling Dr. Winkin that when I was considering coaching as my life’s work, I used to make the trek down I-95 to the Waterville campus just to watch him direct the White Mules. From Winkin, I learned organization and professionalism on the sidelines.

“Sometimes the only impression people get of you and your program is the first one,” he’d tell me. “Make it a good one.”

I have special memories of taking my oldest son Scott to Mahaney Diamond when he was just a little boy. We used to take a lawn chair and a cooler into the bushes surrounding the outfield fence and watch Maine play.

There’s nothing quite like Mahaney on a warm spring day. I also have fond memories of watching future major leaguers Frank Viola of St. John’s University, Bill Swift of UMaine, and Mike Bordick of Black Bear fame playing under the bright Orono sun.

Toda, coach Winkin hangs his hat at Husson College in Bangor as the head baseball coach. This summer he will coach the Bangor American Legion entry. Those youngsters have no idea how lucky they are to be under the tutelage of such a coaching giant.

For Paul Kostacopoulos, the shadow has indeed been a long one. His program seems to be on the brink of success achieved by Butterfield and Winkin.. The constant that coach Kosty displays is class, a personal trait his two predecessors were noted for at Maine. Win or lose, this guy displays the demeanor of a champion every time out. Never too high in victory; never too low in defeat. That’s the Kostacopoulos way. Those of us who follow Maine baseball certainly like his style.

Fans such as this scribe also appreciate how he and his players look and act before, during, and after games. We especially enjoy watching the coach’s professional demeanor in all public forums.

I feel strongly that there will soon be a time when the Kostacopoulos era will rank right up there with his two talented predecessors. With a strong showing in last weekend’s Oxford, Miss., regional, the future is indeed bright for the Black Bear baseball program.

NEWS columnist Ron Brown, a retired high school basketball coach, can be reached at bdnsports@bangordailynews.net