Photo by: Peter Buehner
Jack Cosgrove named Colby College head football coach
12/29/2017 9:15:00 AM | General
Cosgrove dedicated 36 years to the University of Maine
Orono, Maine — Jack Cosgrove, the University of Maine's all-time winningest football coach, has accepted the head coaching position at Colby College in Waterville.
With mixed emotions, Cosgrove, currently the senior associate director of athletics at UMaine, made the announcement Friday, Dec. 29. His final day at UMaine will be Friday, Jan. 5.
"Athletics, particularly football at the University of Maine, has been my life's work. I have played, coached and provided leadership here for 36 years," said Cosgrove.
"The Cosgrove family, in its entirety, has graduated from here. To say that the university has impacted our lives would be an understatement. We can only hope that we have given to UMaine as much as it has given us.
"I would like to thank President Susan Hunter and Athletic Director Karlton Creech for providing me the opportunity to work in athletics administration here the last two years. That has been a tremendous experience, one that provided me a window into the world of college athletics in its entirety. It was during my time as an Administrator that I realized how much I missed coaching. I feel blessed to have had that experience and to be able to go back to doing what I truly love. Success in Division I athletics is dependent upon leadership and the university is in good hands to address those challenges.
"I also would like to recognize and sincerely thank the multitudes of faculty members, administrators, coaches, staff members and, most importantly, the student-athletes who have profoundly impacted my life. I am forever grateful."
Including his undergraduate playing career, assistant coaching duties and senior administration services, Cosgrove dedicated 36 years to the university.
Director of Athletics Karlton Creech said he and the athletics department are grateful and happy for Cosgrove.
"His service to the University of Maine has made a tremendous positive impact on our student-athletes, coaches, staff and community. Many of the great achievements in the history of UMaine athletics have taken place during Jack's time as a student-athlete, assistant coach, head coach and senior administrator. We are fortunate that Jack Cosgrove is a Black Bear," said Creech.
"On a personal note, I would like to thank Jack for his hard work, guidance and friendship during the last two years in his role as senior associate director of athletics. I will miss Jack's presence and his leadership. We wish Jack and Colby the very best as they begin this new and exciting era of Colby College football."
Cosgrove's pride and passion for the state's flagship university helped UMaine achieve excellence, on the field and off.
"Jack will be missed at UMaine, but he will continue to be a source of inspiration and pride in our state," said University of Maine President Susan J. Hunter. "I have known Jack for more than two decades and am genuinely pleased to see him following his heart and his professional passion for the gridiron. We appreciate all he accomplished for Black Bear Nation and look forward to seeing him leading Colby football."
Cosgrove, a native of Sharon, Massachusetts, earned his bachelor's degree and master's in educational administration from UMaine in 1978 and 1981, respectively. During his time at UMaine, Cosgrove was a two-time second-team All-Yankee Conference quarterback and an ECAC All-Star.
Cosgrove was named head coach at his alma mater Feb. 22, 1993. His 129 wins in 23 years are more than any other coach in program history. He coached a school-record 264 games and guided the Black Bears to three conference championships and five NCAA postseason appearances.
Cosgrove mentored 20 All-Americans, three National Football League (NFL) draft picks, a trio of Buck Buchanan Award finalists (presented to the top defensive player at the FCS level) and was a three-time Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year finalist.
In 2013, Cosgrove was awarded the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Coach of the Year honor after leading the Black Bears to the league regular-season title and hosting the school's first-ever NCAA playoff game at Alfond Stadium.
The two-time Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year and New England Football Writers FCS Coach of the Year was inducted into the Maine Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.
In addition to developing student-athletes on the field, Cosgrove was focused on promoting success in the classroom.
During his last decade as head coach, the program achieved NCAA Academic Progress Rates above 950, including a 980 mark in 2008-09. The Black Bears have earned numerous CAA All-Academic honors, CAA Student-Athlete of the Year selections in 2008 and 2013 and "M" Club Dean Smith honorees in 2001, 2008 and 2013.
In November 2015, Cosgrove transitioned into a senior associate athletic director role. Dec. 15, 2015, Joe Harasymiak was named the 35th UMaine head football coach.
"I want to wish Coach Cos and his family the best and congratulate him on his new appointment as head coach at Colby," said Harasymiak. "I would also like to thank him for everything he has done for the UMaine football program and myself, personally. He is, and will always be, the greatest mentor in my coaching career. But now it is very humbling to be able to call him my friend. It is very important that Black Bear Nation remembers that he will never not be a part of UMaine football."
-UMaine-
With mixed emotions, Cosgrove, currently the senior associate director of athletics at UMaine, made the announcement Friday, Dec. 29. His final day at UMaine will be Friday, Jan. 5.
"Athletics, particularly football at the University of Maine, has been my life's work. I have played, coached and provided leadership here for 36 years," said Cosgrove.
"The Cosgrove family, in its entirety, has graduated from here. To say that the university has impacted our lives would be an understatement. We can only hope that we have given to UMaine as much as it has given us.
"I would like to thank President Susan Hunter and Athletic Director Karlton Creech for providing me the opportunity to work in athletics administration here the last two years. That has been a tremendous experience, one that provided me a window into the world of college athletics in its entirety. It was during my time as an Administrator that I realized how much I missed coaching. I feel blessed to have had that experience and to be able to go back to doing what I truly love. Success in Division I athletics is dependent upon leadership and the university is in good hands to address those challenges.
"I also would like to recognize and sincerely thank the multitudes of faculty members, administrators, coaches, staff members and, most importantly, the student-athletes who have profoundly impacted my life. I am forever grateful."
Including his undergraduate playing career, assistant coaching duties and senior administration services, Cosgrove dedicated 36 years to the university.
Director of Athletics Karlton Creech said he and the athletics department are grateful and happy for Cosgrove.
"His service to the University of Maine has made a tremendous positive impact on our student-athletes, coaches, staff and community. Many of the great achievements in the history of UMaine athletics have taken place during Jack's time as a student-athlete, assistant coach, head coach and senior administrator. We are fortunate that Jack Cosgrove is a Black Bear," said Creech.
"On a personal note, I would like to thank Jack for his hard work, guidance and friendship during the last two years in his role as senior associate director of athletics. I will miss Jack's presence and his leadership. We wish Jack and Colby the very best as they begin this new and exciting era of Colby College football."
Cosgrove's pride and passion for the state's flagship university helped UMaine achieve excellence, on the field and off.
"Jack will be missed at UMaine, but he will continue to be a source of inspiration and pride in our state," said University of Maine President Susan J. Hunter. "I have known Jack for more than two decades and am genuinely pleased to see him following his heart and his professional passion for the gridiron. We appreciate all he accomplished for Black Bear Nation and look forward to seeing him leading Colby football."
Cosgrove, a native of Sharon, Massachusetts, earned his bachelor's degree and master's in educational administration from UMaine in 1978 and 1981, respectively. During his time at UMaine, Cosgrove was a two-time second-team All-Yankee Conference quarterback and an ECAC All-Star.
Cosgrove was named head coach at his alma mater Feb. 22, 1993. His 129 wins in 23 years are more than any other coach in program history. He coached a school-record 264 games and guided the Black Bears to three conference championships and five NCAA postseason appearances.
Cosgrove mentored 20 All-Americans, three National Football League (NFL) draft picks, a trio of Buck Buchanan Award finalists (presented to the top defensive player at the FCS level) and was a three-time Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year finalist.
In 2013, Cosgrove was awarded the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Coach of the Year honor after leading the Black Bears to the league regular-season title and hosting the school's first-ever NCAA playoff game at Alfond Stadium.
The two-time Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year and New England Football Writers FCS Coach of the Year was inducted into the Maine Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.
In addition to developing student-athletes on the field, Cosgrove was focused on promoting success in the classroom.
During his last decade as head coach, the program achieved NCAA Academic Progress Rates above 950, including a 980 mark in 2008-09. The Black Bears have earned numerous CAA All-Academic honors, CAA Student-Athlete of the Year selections in 2008 and 2013 and "M" Club Dean Smith honorees in 2001, 2008 and 2013.
In November 2015, Cosgrove transitioned into a senior associate athletic director role. Dec. 15, 2015, Joe Harasymiak was named the 35th UMaine head football coach.
"I want to wish Coach Cos and his family the best and congratulate him on his new appointment as head coach at Colby," said Harasymiak. "I would also like to thank him for everything he has done for the UMaine football program and myself, personally. He is, and will always be, the greatest mentor in my coaching career. But now it is very humbling to be able to call him my friend. It is very important that Black Bear Nation remembers that he will never not be a part of UMaine football."
-UMaine-
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