UMaine commits another turnover

How is it possible that the UMaine athletic department can throw the ball away yet again? First, the jump ball that left Stephen King out of bounds. Second, passing the ball to a coach that had already fouled out complete with a $100,000 bonus for resigning.

Now, under the guise of “deciding who’s the best person” for the head women’s hoop job, UMaine allows a home-grown starter to head straight to the showers. Coach Paul Vachon of Cony, who had indicated interest in the position, has not met the university imposed criteria of three years’ coaching experience at the collegiate level. What he does have is 30 years of experience, a successful feeder system, highly attended summer camps and alumnae games, and young women who on “Go!” would run through a brick wall for him. Many of his players have gone on to play college ball.

Vachon’s stat sheet stands on its own. Since 1985 his high school teams have had a record of 433-37. In other words, 92 percent of time they win (see conygirls.com). Coach Vachon doesn’t view the position at UMaine as a steppingstone, but as a landing spot to grow the program back to new heights. He has been part of it and understands its history.

Maine people won’t soon forget that the athletic department set the screen that picked off one of our own before the game even started. Can three years as an assistant really compare to his established track record over three decades? Is there any way he could possibly have more to offer?

Widen the search criteria to be inclusive of this experience. Recognize and respect his long-term commitment to teaching teenage female athletes about life and basketball, some of whom (after three years of collegiate experience) may aspire to be head coaches themselves.

Would Coach Vachon ultimately be the top pick of the search committee? Who knows? You always miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take and Paul Vachon of Cony High School just doesn’t deserve a no-look pass.

Emily Ellis

Bangor

Fundamentals needed for UM softball team

If Black Bears coach Stacey Sullivan wants to know why her team has a losing record she should take a look at Monday’s [April 30] BDN Sports section. The two pictures from the weekend series with Albany show Maine’s shortstop and catcher trying to field throws with their eyes closed. Maybe a little training in the fundamentals would improve the performance of Sullivan’s team.

William Osmer

Bangor

Hoff remarks about candidates disappoint

It was disappointing to hear Peter Hoff state that University of Maine women’s basketball program should look beyond coaching candidates with strong Maine ties, such as Cindy Blodgett or Paul Vachon, among others.

Mr. Hoff forgot to mention the coaching background of the greatest coach in women’s college basketball: Pat Summitt. Some may even argue that Pat Summitt is the greatest current coach in all of college basketball, men’s or women’s programs. It should be kept in mind that the legendary Tennessee coach was hired as a fairly recent Tennessee graduate and basketball player, with almost no coaching experience.

By the same token, in Connecticut, The University of Hartford has become the dominant team in America East women’s basketball in the past few years. Hartford also hired a relatively inexperienced coach and local favorite: Jennifer Rizzotti.

Rizzotti was a well-regarded, sparkplug-type point guard for the University of Connecticut when it won its first national championship (in fact, she played against Maine and Cindy Blodgett in the first round of the NCAA tournament that year).

Like Blodgett, Jennifer Rizzotti played a few years of professional basketball, including a stint in the WNBA. Next she briefly trained as an assistant coach before landing the Hartford head coaching job. In a relatively short time, she now coaches the dominant team in America East. Jennifer Rizzotti inspires high school girls to want to attend the Hartford Hawks’ basketball program.

We can only hope people like Mr. Hoff can look at a larger picture than just padded resumes.

Eric Semmel

Dedham

Thanks to Nitardy

One element that was missing from your story about coach Skip Nitardy and the Bangor Y swim team: When 1976 Olympian and beloved coach Matt Vogel left the Old Town-Orono YMCA’s Canoe City Swim Club one year ago for a position in Indiana, a lot of devoted swimmers were left without a coach, and with the fear that they would soon be without a pool as well.

Skip enthusiastically welcomed about 25 swimmers ranging in age from 8 to 18 years who left the coach-less CCSC and joined the Barracudas last year. His attitude and inclusiveness made the transition as comfortable as possible for this large cohort who descended en masse on his swim team.

As a parent of a former CCSC senior swimmer, I’m grateful to Skip for his sensitivity to an entire group of swimmers and their parents who were feeling a bit bereft one year ago. Skip is certainly deserving of the accolades that are coming his way.

Edwana Meisner

Old Town

Blodgett’s the one

UMaine women need a coach, Cindy Blodgett!!

That’s a no braina.

David Clukey

Sangerville

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