UMPI’s Casavant decision doesn’t make sense
To the editor:
I am writing in reference to the situation of the Athletic Director Bill Casavant being let go and his position being eliminated at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. I do not understand what the University is thinking. They say budgetary reasons. Yes, I do know that they are having some problems and having to do with lay-offs, etc., but no athletic director? There has to be something more to this decision — I feel they could have resolved this in a much better way.
How can this institution be a part of both NCAA and NAIA, have 12 teams and not have an athletic director? What about the accreditation of the institution? What is going on? There are a lot of everyday items that have to be taken care of and who is going to do these — are they going to put more of a workload on the coaches and/or the administrative assistant? That should not happen.
I attend almost all of the games at the University and feel strongly that there is definitely going to be a big void there by not having an athletic director, especially Bill. In the two years that he has been there, the athletic program has been completely turned around. Bill is well known in the “County” and throughout the state and therefore, the coaches have done more recruiting of athletes, both local and in the state, which in turn has brought out many more people to the games and brought in more revenue to the University.
It was great to go to the games and see so many people in attendance — that hasn’t happened in a long time! Bill has all the qualifications that are needed in this position or if he didn’t, why did they hire him in the first place?
Bill is an outstanding alumnus and was inducted into the Hall of Fame, which indicates that he was also an outstanding athlete while attending the college and has been an outstanding coach for many years in many different sports. He has been an advocate for this University and all three of his sons graduated from UMPI. I am sure that many people in the community and throughout the state are wondering as well as me, what this campus is thinking and what direction they want to see the athletic program go in.
Presque Isle
