University of Maine Sports Hall of Fame
Dr. Rankin served on the Maine faculty for 2 years as a professor of education and as Director of Athletics for 15 years. Only Harold Westerman had a longer tenure as Athletic Director. Hundreds of his former students went on to have successful coaching careers at the high school and college levels. He had a keen eye for spotting talent and the record shows that his selections, all Maine Hall of Fame members, included Jack Butterfield, Harold Westerman, Brain McCall, Ed Styrna and Woody Carville. He also coached basketball for several years and was an assistant in football. He was a highly successful basketball and football coach at Eastern Kentucky University before arriving in Orono.
