Volleyball coach hired at UMPI
Jay Beaulieu
PRESQUE ISLE – There is a new addition to the University of Maine at Presque Isle coaching staff this fall as Jay Beaulieu has recently been hired to take over as head coach of the women’s volleyball team.
Beaulieu replaces Terry Cummings, who served as the Owls’ coach for the past two seasons, but this year will assume head coaching responsibilities for women’s softball along with men’s basketball.
Originally from Vernon, Conn., Beaulieu graduated from Rockville High School in 1996, where he was a three-year varsity football player. Following graduation, he attended Rivier College in Nashua, N.H. – a Div. III university – and walked onto the men’s volleyball team. Starting out as a back-row specialist during his freshman year, Jay became the starting center the following season and eventually captained the team as a junior. Beaulieu did not play his final season due to the demands and his dedication to student-teaching.
Beaulieu was fortunate to have played under coach Craig Koleck, who is still at Rivier and currently in his 14th season. Koleck’s teams have accumulated a 246-146 record during his tenure.
Graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Art Education in 2000, Beaulieu quickly began working as an art teacher at Central High School in Manchester, N.H., where he spent seven years. He began his coaching career at CHS as the five-year head coach of the JV girls volleyball team. He then moved across town to rival school, West High, and spent one season as the head coach of the girls varsity volleyball team.
Having relocated to Aroostook County two years ago, Beaulieu was hired at Circle of Learning, where he specifically works with pre-school aged children with special needs. Beaulieu is currently taking courses at UMPI and is working toward a teaching certification in physical education.
