The University of Maine will have a new softball coaching staff next season.

Stacey Sullivan, who was the America East Coach of the Year in her first season in 2006 but struggled through an 11-39 campaign last season, won’t have her contracted renewed after it expires in June, according to Maine athletic director Blake James.

Sullivan led the Black Bears to a school-record 35 wins (35-19) and the America East regular-season title (16-5 in league play) in 2006, but they went 24-25 (9-11 AE) in 2007 and lost their first 28 games this spring before going 11-11 the rest of the way (10-11 AE).

They missed the America East playoffs the past two seasons after hosting in 2006.

She concluded her three-year stint with a 70-84 record.

The team also had three players suspended and the program was placed on probation for a 2006 hazing party from which photos were posted on a Web site.

James said he felt it was, “time for a change.”

He said there wasn’t a specific reason for his decision.

“It was really an accumulation of things,” said James. “It wasn’t just based on wins and losses. The overall direction of the program isn’t where I’d like it to be going.”

Sullivan was a four-year starter at Maine and led the team to four straight America East playoff appearances. She captained the 1999 team.

She was the head softball coach at Simmons College (Mass.) from 2002-04 and led the Sharks to a school-record 20 wins in 2004. She became the head coach at Division II Merrimack College (Mass.) in 2005, when the Warriors were 20-22.

Sullivan, who this year was paid a base salary of $42,840, could not be reached for comment.

Assistant coaches Meghann Reiss and Lynn Coutts won’t have their contracts renewed, said James, who explained a search committee will be selected by the end of the week and “we’d like to have someone in place by the beginning of July. If it was sooner, that would be great.”

UM’s Smith AE player of year

Curt Smith capped his impressive baseball career at UMaine on Wednesday by earning the America East Len Harlow Player of the Year award.

The senior first baseman received the honor, voted on by the league’s head coaches, during Wednesday night’s awards banquet in Islandia, N.Y.

Smith was among four UMaine players recognized for their performances. Sophomore catcher Myckie Lugbauer was named to the All-America East first team while freshmen Jarrett Lukas of Old Town and Kevin Scanlan were selected to the all-rookie squad.

Lefthander Joe Serafin of Vermont was named the pitcher of the year, Peter Bregartner of Binghamton was chosen rookie of the year and Maryland Baltimore County Coach John Jancuska was tabbed the coach of the year.

Smith, a native of Curacao, led America East in batting average (.403), slugging percentage (.722), runs scored (60) and total bases (127) and finished second in on-base percentage (.498), tied for second in hits (71) and home runs (11), and was third in walks (32) and fifth in doubles (17).

The 5-foot-10, 208-pounder committed only one error this spring playing at first base and in the outfield after playing third base and shortstop his first three seasons. Smith joins former Bears Mark Sweeney (1991) and Chad White (1993) as the only UMaine players to win the honor.

Smith departs at UMaine’s career leader with 19 triples and ranks second in hits (300), third in doubles (60) and tied for third in RBIs (178).

Lugbauer, last year’s Rookie of the Year, had another outstanding season. He batted .343 with a team-best 43 RBIs and scored 36 runs. He also belted five home runs and 18 doubles with a .552 slugging percentage.

Lukas burst onto the scene with a good freshman season. The third baseman started 39 games and batted .319 with 28 RBIs and 22 runs scored. He hit four homers, eight doubles and two triples.

Scanlan had a 2-5 record but led the ballclub with a 3.74 earned run average and struck out a team-high 72 batters in 67 1/3 innings. The lefthander ranked second in AE in strikeouts and was fifth in ERA. His 9.53 strikeouts per nine innings ranks 66th in the nation.

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