ORONO, Maine – On Monday afternoon at Alfond Family Lounge, Director of Athletics Karlton Creech introduced Richard Barron as the 22^nd head coach of the Maine men's basketball team.
 
Barron previously served as a Special Assistant to the Director Athletics at UMaine since December 1, 2017. He was the head coach of the UMaine women's basketball team from 2011 to 2017 before taking a medical leave of absence in January 2017.
 
"There's a lot of great things about Maine," said Barron in his opening statement. "The student and student-athlete experience specifically is one of them. That happens because you have a lot of really good people here, who pour themselves into these student-athletes everyday. I have gotten to see that from a different perspective over the last year."
 
"This is a really exciting time to be here," continued Barron. "I think we have laid a great foundation moving forward with the University in the time I've been here. I see how hard our coaches work and our student-athletes work. I think we're starting to see a lot of results."
 
Barron takes over head coaching duties from Bob Walsh, who decided not to seek a contract extension.
 
As head coach of the UMaine women's team, Barron brought the program back to its winning ways, putting together a winning season in his third season in 2013-14. Barron assembled back-to-back 20 win seasons in 2014-15 and 2015-16, and was named the America East Coach of the Year after the 2015 season.
 
The Black Bears went to the postseason for three consecutive seasons after going 4-24 in 2012-13. In six seasons at Maine, Barron compiled a record of 85-89, along with an overall head coaching record of 236-228. In the America East, Barron owns a record of 46-35 along with two regular season championships.
 
Barron talked about the team he inherits and the work ethic he saw from them this season.
 
"I'm going to pour myself into those kids and we're going to love them up," said Barron "They deserve it. They are one of the hardest working teams that I've ever seen. If you haven't been to see them play, then we're going to have to get you into a practice because you can't wait until next season. These guys worked their tails off. That's a credit to them and Coach Walsh."
 
The 2018-19 season will be Barron's 18^th as a head coach. Prior to coming to UMaine, he served as an assistant coach at both North Carolina State and Baylor. Before that, he was the women's head coach at Princeton and the University of the South-Sewannee.

The upcoming season won't be his first season coaching men; he was an assistant coach of the men's team at the University of the South-Sewannee from 1991 to 1995 before taking over the head coaching duties for the women's team in 1996.

To watch the full press conference, click here.
 
-UMaine-