Mike Coutts, in his sixth year on staff and third at the helm, was promoted to head coach in the summer of 2015.
In his second year serving as head coach, Coutts and the Black Bears returned to the America East Title Game for the second consecutive season. Maine finished the regular season 10-6 in league play, marking the third-straight year in which it recorded double-digit league wins. The total earned Maine the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament. Under Coutts guidance, the Black Bears rallied to knock off No. 1 Binghamton in tournament play before battling to take down UAlbany in the championship round to force a game two, winner take all. Despite coming up just short for their second-straight league championship, Maine finished the season with 19 wins.
During the 2017 season, Coutts mentored four all-conference selections and further developed Maine's "win at everything you do" attitude. Mixed in with their impressive community service efforts and championship level play on the diamond, the Black Bears remained focused in the classroom. Coutts discipline and emphasis on the 'student' portion of being a student-athlete was apparent as the softball team finished with the highest cumulative GPA out of all UMaine's varsity teams (3.43); 42nd highest in all of Division-I softball. Individually, the Black Bears earned 15 selections to the America East honor roll, 10 of which being represented on the America East Commissioner's Honor Roll (3.5+ GPA). Erika Leonard also garnered a selection to the America East All-Academic team.
Coutts had one of the most impressive head coaching debuts in Maine history, guiding the Black Bears to their third America East Championship and the first since 2004. Maine went on to compete at the Athens Regional, taking on Georgia and Oklahoma State.
During the impressive 2015-16 campaign under Coutts' leadership, the Black Bears set numerous records including most runs in a season (263), most hits in a season (430). Coutts, who helped Maine's offense raise its batting average +64 points from the year prior, led Maine to a team average of .315 (2nd in AE), and a league-leading ERA of 3.19.
Individually, the Black Bears swept the America East postseason awards as Coutts mentored the league's Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year and Rookie of the Year.
Overall, Maine's 28 wins in 2016 were its most in six years.
Coutts served his first three years as an assistant and the 2014 season as associate head coach.
Coutts mentored three hitters to over .300 averages in just his second year with the team. Coutts developed junior Jessica Burk to the league's second-highest average as the outfielder hit .384 on the season with 43 hits and four home runs. As a whole, Maine's team average grew from .211 to .257 under Coutts' watch; its highest average since 2011.
In his first year with the Black Bears, Coutts helped all-conference junior Jean Stevens develop into the America East leader with 13 home runs and tied for the league-lead with 38 RBI. Fellow all-conference selection EmJ Fogel also showed high-skill with the bat as she hit a team-leading .305.
On Sept. 25, 2012, former head coach Lynn Coutts announced the hiring of Mike Coutts in an assistant role. Mike Coutts, a former Black Bear baseball team member and assistant Black Bear baseball coach, primarily focused on working closely with the hitters, infielders and the catchers.
Coutts brought with him a wealth of knowledge on the diamond as he spent the 1987-97 seasons as an associate/assistant baseball coach under the great John Winkin at the University of Maine. During his time assisting at Maine, Coutts helped lead the Black Bears to NCAA Regional Appearances in 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1993 while coaching 10 future Major League Baseball professionals.
Coutts spent four seasons as a member of the Black Bear baseball team from 1978-81. In 1981, as the team captain, Coutts helped lead the squad to a College World Series appearance. Coutts was named to the Northeast Regional First Team in 1980-81; an All-New England First Team selection in 1981; a Cape Cod Summer League All-Star in 1980 and a Yankee Conference First Team selection from 1979-81.
From 1995-2002, Coutts was the head coach of the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Summer Baseball League. While with the Kettleers, Coutts led the team to a pair of league championships in 1995 and 1999. Following the 1995 season, Coutts was named 1995 Cape Cod Coach of the Year. Coutts coached professionals Chase Utley, Garrett Atkins and Mitch Stetter all while they were with the Kettleers.
Following his time in the Cape League, Coutts held head coaching stints in the Alaska Collegiate Baseball League and the New England Collegiate Baseball League.
From 2009-10, Coutts was the head baseball coach at Deering High School in Portland, Maine. While at Deering, Coutts led the team to the 2009 State Championship and a perfect 22-0 record after racking up 50-consecutive victories. At one point, Coutts' Deering squad was ranked as the #50 program in the United States.
More recently, Coutts was the head coach at Scarborough High School in Scarborough, Maine. While at the helm, Coutts led the team to a Western Maine Championship in 2012.
Since 1997, Coutts operated the Frozen Ropes Baseball & Softball Training Center in Portland Maine where he has conducted numerous coaching clinics as well as offering one-on-one training in all areas of the game.
Coutts also co-authored "Organization of Indoor Baseball Practice" while producing a video by the same title.
Coutts graduated from the University of Maine in 1982 with a Bachelor of Health and Physical Education before earning his Master of Education/Administration in 1989, also from the University of Maine.
Coutts and his wife, former head coach Lynn Coutts, are the parents of two children; son Jackson and daughter Maggie. Jackson currently plays baseball at the University of Rhode Island.
