Jonathan “Gabby” Price, who led the resurrection of the Husson College football program in 2002 and has also been the athletic director since May 2003, has decided to step down as athletic director.

Dr. Richard “Rick” Stephens, who has been the institution’s vice president of academic affairs since 2006, will take over as the AD on Aug. 18.

“Gabby has left a tremendous mark on the athletic department as well as the school. Just look at the growth of the athletic department as well as the [number of] student-athletes through the sports we have added,” said Husson men’s basketball coach and associate athletic director Warren Caruso.

Price has had 100-plus players in his football program the last few years, while Husson added women’s swimming two years ago and will offer varsity men’s and women’s lacrosse next spring.

The football program has played an independent schedule but will be in a conference, the North Atlantic Conference, beginning in 2009.

Price said “it was a good time” for him to step down. He feels “the biggest thing is that your athletic director should be a full-time person [without coaching responsibilities].”

“That’s what’s best for the athletic department,” said the 59-year-old Price, who has thoroughly enjoyed being the AD.

“It has been great. I’ve enjoyed everyone I’ve worked with. They’ve all been terrific. This has been the thrill of a lifetime. Everybody should have the opportunity I’ve had,” said Price. “Change is a very positive thing and I’m sure Rick and the school will continue to do great things. I’m very optimistic about that.”

He downplayed his role in the development of the athletic program.

“Every decision that has been made has been a collective decision,” said Price. “And everything we’ve done has been to benefit the students and the student-athletes.”

Price said Husson president Bill Beardsley was very supportive throughout his tenure.

“It was a pleasure to work with Gabby both as a coach and a mentor,” said Caruso. “The experience has been invaluable. He works six and a half days a week, 10 hours a day,” added Caruso, who will begin his 15th year as the basketball coach next season.

“He was always accessible. He was always at games encouraging the coaches and athletes. We had 320 student-athletes and I would dare to say Gabby knew all of them by name, who they were and what they were about.”

Women’s soccer coach and assistant AD Keith Bosley said Price pioneered a smooth and successful transition from NAIA to NCAA Division III and was also involved in the dramatic improvement in the athletic facilities at Husson, including the creation of the softball complex and installing a FieldTurf surface for the soccer field.

“He has meant a lot to the school. He’s a very hands-on athletic director who has an incredible work ethic,” said Bosley. “He gave the coaches the freedom to grow our programs. He gave us every opportunity, within his capability, to be successful. He has allowed us to raise funds and be entrepreneurial.”

He said Price has the ability to “draw the best from people. He gets you to work hard and you feel very loyal to him. You feel the affection he has for you. So do the student-athletes.”

Price has done an exceptional job with the football program, guiding them from an 0-6 campaign in their first season in 2002 with a 50-man roster to a 6-3 season a year ago with 115 players on the roster.

The Eagles were ranked in the top 10 among New England-based NCAA Division III schools.

That followed a 6-4 campaign in 2006 that included a win over Division I-AA LaSalle (Pa.).

He has also significantly upgraded the schedule each year. This fall’s schedule includes games against Division II teams Merrimack, American International and College.

Stephens was an athlete at Greenville College (Ill.) and was the head tennis coach there for 17 years. He was the conference coach of the year seven times.

He also worked with the tennis program at the University of Kansas while earning his Ph.D in sociology and has headed up regional and national NCAA invitational tennis tournaments. He worked for the International Baseball Association and the Soviet Central Sports Committee in 1988 as a roving baseball instructor in the former USSR, including a stint conducting clinics with a Cuban national junior team.

He will remain as vice president of academic affairs.

Stephens knows he has big shoes to fill.

“Gabby has built quite a program since he first arrived. He’s added sports, added facilities and has done all that while serving as the head coach of a new program with 100-plus players,” said the 52-year-old Stephens. “My objective is to, first of all, do no harm. Secondly, I want to promote the students, coaches and programs we have as much as I possibly can and work with the rest of the institution and the community on any program development in years to come.

“My dad [Richard Sr.] was an assistant athletic director and it has always been in the back of my mind as something that would be interesting to do,” said Stephens.

“The one thing I might be able to bring is a bit of a perspective to see the playing field and the courts as another classroom. I see the sports field as an extension of the classroom. We want to achieve our mission in academics as well as athletics because, in both cases, we’re trying to develop our young people,” said Stephens.

lmahoney@bangordailynews.net

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