Julie Veilleux’s basketball background includes playing for one of the most successful high school programs in the state and for one of the most successful college programs in the America East conference.

Now that Veilleux has moved into coaching, why should her standards be any different?

The former University of Maine and Cony High School of Augusta standout guard has been hired as an assistant women’s basketball coach at Bowdoin College in Brunswick.

“I’m thrilled to have Julie on our staff and in the department,” head coach Stefanie Pemper said. “She was a heck of a player, she has a great mind for the game, she relates very well to people, and she is eager to work for us.”

The Polar Bears’ record of 108-9 in the past four years is the best in the nation in NCAA Division III.

Veilleux was a member of a UMaine team that won back-to-back America East Conference championships in 2003 and 2004 and was an America East Academic honor roll member all four seasons. As a senior she averaged 7.6 points per game.

As a high school player Veilleux was a three-time All-Maine first-teamer, helped the Rams to the 1998 Class A state championship, was a Miss Maine Basketball finalist, and scored 1,306 career points despite missing half of her senior season with a broken foot.

“Julie played for two outstanding coaches in Paul Vachon at Cony H.S. and Sharon Versyp at Maine,” Pemper said. “Aside from seeing two successful leaders at work, she experienced first-hand what it takes for teams to perform at their highest ability and represent themselves well off the floor.”

After graduating from Maine Veilleux played with the Athletes in Action team that went 7-6 against Div. I teams last season.

Bowdoin returns nine players, including former Camden Hills standout Lauren Withey and McAuley of Portland’s Justine Pouravelis, from a team that went 27-3, won its fifth straight NESCAC championship and made it to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Div. III tournament.

Deb Smith named URI coach

Former University of Maine softball coach Deb Smith has been hired to take over the softball team at Rhode Island.

Smith went on personal leave from the Black Bears after guiding UMaine to the America East championship and an NCAA tournament berth in May 2004.

Former assistant coach Michelle Puls filled in for Smith in the 2005 season.

At the time of her decision to step away from the UMaine program, Smith cited mental and personal family issues for her decision and was unsure if she would return to Orono for the 2006 season

This spring she told former UMaine athletic director Patrick Nero that she wasn’t going to return to Maine and had moved out of the area.

Smith spent last spring as an assistant coach at Bates College in Lewiston. The Bobcats went 12-10 with Smith coaching the pitchers.

A former pitcher, Smith helped lead the University of Maine to a conference title and NCAA tourney spot in 1994. She was named the North Atlantic Conference’s Co-Pitcher and Co-Player of the Year that season.

Rhode Island went 8-35 last year.

“I am extremely excited that Deb has accepted the appointment as head softball coach,” said Tom McElroy, Rhode Island’s director of athletics. “Deb’s experience as a builder of a program that boasts success in wins, academic achievement, and making the experience fun for student-athletes is very impressive.”

Smith replaces interim head coach Jill Cimminello.

UM hockey has four NHL picks

In addition to goalie Ben Bishop and defenseman Matt Duffy, there were two other future University of Maine Black Bears who were selected in the National Hockey League draft on Saturday.

Forward Robby Dee, who played for the Breck School (Minn.) and was the leading goal scorer in the state with 49, was chosen in the third round by Edmonton and defenseman Keith Yandle was picked in the fourth round by Phoenix.

Yandle was the leading scorer at Cushing Academy (14 goals, 40 assists).

Yandle has to complete some summer courses to become eligible in the fall and Dee will come to Maine in the fall of 2006 after playing for the Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League this coming season..

Bishop was a third-round pick of St. Louis and Duffy was a fourth-round pick of Florida.

Binder joins ISU football staff

Bangor native Chris Binder has joined the Indiana State University football coaching staff, Sycamores head coach Lou West announced Tuesday.

Binder, a former placekicker and punter for Bangor High and the University of Maine, will serve as ISU’s tight ends coach under offensive coordinator Charley Molnar.

He also will serve as the team’s video production coordinator.

Binder comes to the Sycamores program from Toledo where he spent the past two seasons as a graduate assistant responsible for video production and coordination.

Before taking the Toledo job, Binder served as a kicking coach at the University of Maine from 1998 to 2001.

“I worked with Chris a great deal at Toledo,” said West. “He is a young guy who is very ambitious and has a great deal of expertise in the kicking game. He is going to work hard with our kickers and tight ends to get them going in the right direction this season.”