Catherria Turner has been named the new assistant coach for the University of Maine women’s basketball team, head coach Cindy Blodgett announced Monday.

Turner, who played basketball at Oklahoma State, comes to Maine after serving as an assistant coach at Simpson College (Iowa) since 2007.

“Catherria has a passion for the game,” Blodgett said. “She will bring a tremendous amount of energy and enthusiasm to Maine. She played at Oklahoma State, so she knows the commitment it takes to play basketball at an elite level. Most importantly, she is committed to helping bring Maine a championship.”

Turner has been an assistant coach at Simpson College in Iowa since 2007 when she helped guide Simpson to a 27-3 record and a berth in the sweet sixteen of the NCAA Division III tourney. The 27 wins were a school-record.

Turner assisted in all facets of the program, including helping to conduct practices, implement coaching strategies and recruiting prospective student-athletes. Turner also worked with Katelyn Whiton, who was named the MVP of the Iowa Conference, and was a 2008 NCAA Division III State Farm Coaches’ All-American.

Turner graduated from Oklahoma State in 2005 after playing for four years for the Cowgirls. She was named Academic All-Big 12 and team captain as a senior. She led Division I in minutes played, and was seventh in assists before being injured during the 2004-05 season.

Turner began her playing career at Oregon before transferring to Oklahoma State.

From 2004-06, Turner served as the head coach of the Tucson Miracles, an AAU girls basketball program.

Turner replaces Rita Sullivan, a UMaine alum and former Bangor High basketball star who left in August after one season to move to New York City where her boyfriend of five years lives.

Guerrette gets UMPI golf post

The University of Maine-Presque Isle has announced the hiring of Ryan Guerrette as its golf coach.

Guerrette spent six years as director of golf at the Mars Hill Country Club and served as the golf coach at Central Aroostook High School in Mars Hill from 2000-2007. His Panther team won seven straight Aroostook League titles.

Guerrette, the operations manager at Big Rock Ski Area, is a 1996 CAHS graduate. He earned a B.A. in business administration in 1998 from Northern Maine Community College, where he led the Falcons to conference golf championships in 1997 and ’98.

In 1998, he was named the conference individual champ-ion and the team MVP.

“I’m very excited to be joining the coaching staff at UMPI. I look forward to the challenge of building a successful golf program,” Guerrette said in a press release.

He resides in Mars Hill with his wife Jamie and children, Carly and Bobbi Jo.

Flynn named Bates golf coach

Bob Flynn has been named the head coach of the men’s and women’s golf teams at Bates College in Lewiston, where he has been a fixture for 43 years.

Flynn, a longtime coach of baseball, golf and Nordic skiing, previously directed the golf team from 1990-2000 and has been an assistant the last seven years.

Peter Lasagna, the Bobcats’ departing golf coach, has been reassigned to administrative duties and will continue to coach the men’s lacrosse team.