RIC Basketball Coach Bob Walsh Accepts Maine Job
Tuesday, May 06, 2014
Rhode Island College men’s basketball coach Bob Walsh will accept the head coaching job at the University of Maine, sources confirm to GoLocalProv.
Walsh is expected to be announced as the next head coach of the Black Bears later today. The Bangor Daily News reports he will sign a 4-year deal that will pay him 6 figures annually. Officials withing the RIC Athletic Department said they are waiting on an official announcement to comment on Walsh's departure.
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Walsh compiled a 204-63 record at RIC and made the postseason in all 9 years with the Anchormen. RIC has an 8-season streak of NCAA Tournament appearances dating back to Walsh’s second season at the helm. They’ve won 6 Little East Conference Championships in that span of time.
Walsh’s ability to build a program on the fly and sustain an annual powerhouse in Division 3 made him an attractive candidate for the Division 1 Black Bears. Maine is coming off a 6-23 season, and the Black Bears bought out the remaining 2 years on former Head Coach Ted Woodward’s contract on April 14th.
Woodward spent 18 years as a coach at Maine, 8 as an assistant and 10 as Head Coach. He had a 117-178 record over his tenure as Head Coach.
The Road Ahead
Walsh is replacing a mainstay at Maine, but the Black Bears needed a new voice to lead their program as they hope to build a contender in the America East Conference.
If Walsh can duplicate his success from RIC, Maine will have made a fantastic hire.
We will update this story when Maine formally announces the hiring.
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