Scott Atherley has been synonymous with University of Maine since 1984, first as a student-athlete and now in his 27th season as head coach of the women's program and 33rd overall as a head coach in Orono in 2025.
Atherley has guided the Black Bears to back-to-back America East Championship titles and NCAA Tournament berths in 2023 and 2024. Atherley and his staff have also earned two consecutive America East Coaching Staff of the Year honors.
The 2024 season saw Maine go 13-2-3 overall and finish the America East conference slate with a 7-0-1 record and 22 points for the best season by a conference time since 2012. The Black Bears also earned the first regular season title and No. 1 seed in program history. Additionally, with a 1-0 win over UMass Lowell on Oct. 12, Maine set an America East record for the longest home unbeaten streak at 23 games – a mark that reached 27 games with a 3-0 win over New Hampshire in the tournament title game. Maine also had an America East leading seven selections to the 2024 America East All-Conference teams while Abby Kraemer earned third team All-American honors.
In 2023, Atherley guided the Black Bears to the program's first-ever America East title and NCAA Tournament berth and earned America East Coaching Staff of the Year honors. The Black Bears got off to an 8-0-4 start for the longest undefeated start to begin a season in program history and the team ended the regular season at 9-1-6 overall and 4-1-3 in America East play. Kraemer became the first-ever All-American in program history while also being one of seven Black Bears to be named to an All-League teams.
Led by a tenacious defense, the Black Bears are a challenging team to play against in the America East Conference every game. Atherley has coached numerous major America East award winners in Striker of the Year (2), Midfielder of the Year (1), Defender of the Year (6), Goalkeeper of the Year (3), Rookie of the Year (3) and Scholar Athlete of the Year (4). There have been 34 First Team All-Conference selections, 33 Second Team selections and 26 All-Rookies.
Atherley also leads a team that excels in the classroom. Maine has had an America East-leading 36 selections to the America East All-Academic Team. The program has also earned multiple Division I Team Academic Awards from the NSCAA and earned a spot on the United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award list. Maine has also earned the Team Ethics and Sportsmanship Platinum Award given by the United Soccer Coaches.Â
Atherley also served as coach of the UMaine men’s soccer team for seven seasons and coached both squads in the fall of 1999. In 1995, he led the men's program to 10 wins, the most by the Black Bears since 1990, and five conference wins, the most in school history. His squad received the 1995 NEISL Fair Play Award for sportsmanship. In 1994, Atherley was named Maine Collegiate Coach of the Year when he led the team to its first conference tournament appearance since 1990, the 1994 Diadora Classic title, and tied the school mark for consecutive wins with six.
A native of Andover, Conn., Atherley was a standout player for the Black Bears during his career. He was a four-year letterwinner at UMaine, serving as team captain his final season where he was selected to the New England Intercollegiate Soccer League (NEISL) All-Star and Maine Collegiate All-State teams.
A 1988 graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education, Atherley also earned his master’s from UMaine in exercise physiology in 1991.
