In the last 40 years, only two men have held the position of head baseball coach at the University of Maine – the late Jack Butterfield and Dr. John Winkin.

There is now a third name to add to that distinguished list.

The NEWS has learned that Providence College coach Paul Kostacopoulos will be introduced as the Black Bears’ boss during a Friday afternoon press conference at Wells Commons in Orono.

The 31-year-old Kostacopoulos, who spent the last seven seasons at Providence, his alma mater, emerged from a field of five finalists. He succeeds 22-year coach Winkin, whose contract was not renewed this summer.

UMaine athletic director Suzanne Tyler reportedly offered Kostacopoulos the position Wednesday night. He would not confirm his appointment when contacted Thursday afternoon.

“I really can’t comment on any of this,” Kostacopoulos said, unable to mask his excitement. “I have been in conversation with Dr. Tyler, but things still haven’t been finalized.”

At Providence, Kostacopoulos directed the Friars to a 220-137 record (.616 winning percentage). Providence qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 1992 and ’95.

Kostacopoulos was named the American Baseball Coaches Association Northeast Region Coach of the year in each of those years and was selected Big East Coach of the Year in 1995.

Kostacopoulos has earned the UMaine job despite going up against two other coaches with an equal amount of head coaching experience and three with significant ties to the program.

UMaine assistant head coach Mike Coutts, Bears assistant Jay Kemble, Dartmouth College head coach Bob Whalen, and Drexel University boss Don Maines were the other finalists.

Coutts wasn’t afraid to admit he was devastated by the news.

“I’m in total shock. I am upset. I’m just disappointed,” said Coutts, a 1981 UMaine grad who captained the 1981 College World Series team and went on to serve 10 seasons as an assistant under Winkin.

“I think I’ve done all the right things for the athletic department,” Coutts said. “I’ve worked hard for 10 years. If I had done bad things or wasn’t a good person, I could see it. I guess loyalty doesn’t mean anything.”

Provided he doesn’t take another job elsewhere, Coutts will be at UMaine through next season. He and Kemble agreed in June to a one-year extension of their current UMaine job agreements.

Coutts is convinced his longtime involvement with the recently struggling UMaine baseball program, which he considered a plus, may have been his downfall.

“I think I’ve been found guilty by association with what’s been going on with the program,” Coutts said. “Some people probably thought because I worked here for 10 years, things weren’t going to change.”

Coutts believes Kostacopoulos will be a successful coach at UMaine, but that doesn’t take away the sting.

“He’s gonna do fine here,” Coutts said. “He’s a good person, but that doesn’t make it any easier.

“I’m not taking anything away from him, but I could do the same thing he’s gonna come in and do. I know the system. I know the people. I know the alumni.”