Courtesy of University of Maine Athletic Communications
ORONO, Maine --
The University of Maine introduced Richard Barron
as its new women's basketball coach on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 in a press conference at "The Pit" in Memorial Gymnasium.
"Coach Barron brings a remarkable combination of experience, vision and
energy to the University of Maine," says Director of Athletics Steve
Abbott. "He exemplifies all the characteristics we were looking for in a
head coach, particularly a track record of success at top-quality
academic institutions competing at the Division I level."
Barron comes to the University of Maine after a two-year stint at North
Carolina State where he served as an assistant coach under Kellie
Harper. In Barron's first year with the Wolfpack, the Tennessee native
helped guide the team to the NCAA Tournament with a 20-14 record. A team
that was predicted to finish ninth in the preseason, ended up finishing
tied for fifth in the ACC standings while making it to the 2010 ACC
Tournament Finals.
Barron is well renowned for his fantastic recruiting as he spent two
seasons at Baylor prior to his time at NC State as the associate head
coach and recruiting coordinator with the Bears. During his time at
Baylor, Barron was responsible for landing the consensus top-ranked
player (Brittney Griner) and the top ranked recruiting class of 2009
while also assisting in coaching the Bears to the Big XII Tournament
Champions.
Baylor compiled a 54-13 record to go along with two trips to the NCAA
tournament, including a run to the Sweet 16 in 2008-09; in the two
seasons Barron was with the Bears' staff.
Barron began his Division I head coaching career at Princeton as he
spent six seasons at the helm of the Tigers' program. After taking over
the program fresh off a 2-25 season prior to his arrival, Barron guided
the Tigers to an 11-16 record in his first season, making Princeton one
of the most improved teams in the country that year. During his six
years at Princeton, Barron managed the Tigers to an Ivy League title in
2005-06, setting a school record for overall wins (21-7) and conference
wins (12-2).
Prior to his time at Princeton, Barron spent five seasons at the
University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn. In his final season at the
University of the South, Barron guided the squad to its first ever
conference championship and a No. 8 national ranking in Division III.
Barron posted a 77-48 record during his tenure at Princeton while
coaching five different players to All-Ivy League honors. Prior to his
time coaching the Sewanee women, Barron was the assistant men's coach at
Sewanee for four years. Barron comes to the University of Maine with an
11-year head coaching career record of 152-139.
In the summer of 2006, Barron looked to expand his coaching knowledge
as he traveled to Treviso, Italy with the NBA's Phoenix Suns to observe
and study under current New York Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni. In
1998, Barron was one of just three collegiate coaches selected to serve
as a floor coach at the American Basketball League's combine. He also
served as the Ivy League Representative for the Women's Basketball
Coaches Association from 2003-06.
Barron, who grew up in both Florida and Tennessee, graduated from
Kenyon College with a B.S. in biology. He graduated cum laude after
being named to the dean's list all eight semesters. Barron played both
basketball and baseball while at Kenyon.
Barron and his wife, Maureen, a former Princeton softball coach, are
the proud parents of six-year-old twin daughters, Lane and Rae, and a
four-year-old son, Billy.
Women's basketball season tickets are available by calling the Black
Bears ticket office at 207-581-BEAR or 1-800-756-TEAM. Fans may also
purchase season tickets in person at the Black Bears ticket office. The
Maine ticket office is now located in the football ticket office with
the construction at Alfond Arena.