PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — A familiar face on the Northern Maine Community College campus has assumed a position familiar to him. Bill Casavant of Presque Isle, who served as NMCC’s director of physical education, athletics and intramurals in the 1980s and early 90s, has been named acting athletic director.
Casavant, who is well known in both the higher education and athletic community, has also returned for his second consecutive season as coach of the Falcons soccer team. He will spend the coming months overseeing the athletic program at NMCC and working with a team to develop a plan to create a new fitness center on campus.
“We’re very pleased to have Bill rejoin our team in this new capacity,” said William Egeler, dean of students. “Bill’s knowledge, experience and passion for athletics and physical fitness will be a wonderful asset for the college, our student body and the community.”
After heading athletics at NMCC, Casavant served as director of admissions for the college for more than a decade, from 1995 through 2008. He also served as athletic director at the University of Maine at Presque Isle for two years.
On the coaching side, Casavant served as both a men’s soccer and men’s basketball coach for NMCC through the 1980s and early 1990s. He also coached soccer, basketball and baseball for Limestone High School, and both soccer and basketball for UMPI. He is currently the assistant boys basketball coach at Caribou High School, where he works with his son, Chris, who is the head coach.
“I greatly appreciate the opportunity to work with the athletic department and am looking forward to the work ahead,” said Casavant. “I’m excited about working to build the athletic program and growing the number of student athletes on campus. I am also pleased to be working on the fitness center project as it will benefit all students, faculty and staff.”
Casavant is also well known as a game official for area sporting contests. He has umpired baseball for the past four decades and served as a soccer official for 25 years and a basketball referee for five. His voice is perhaps as well known as his face, as he was the announcer of Aroostook County high school basketball and hockey contests on radio for 25 years.
Casavant was born in Holyoke, Mass. and graduated from Holyoke High School in 1965. He earned a bachelor’s degree in health, physical education and recreation from UMPI in 1972 and a master’s degree in education from the University of Maine in 1980.
He was the recipient of the Director’s Award at NMCC, named to the UMPI Hall of Fame and received the Maine Sports Legend Award. He is also a former Maine Soccer Official of the Year.
NMCC competes in the Yankee College Conference and is a member of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association.
Casavant will lead the Falcon soccer team in their first game of the season on Saturday, Sept. 10, on the NMCC soccer field at 1 p.m. against familiar competition. The Falcons will play against a team of Falcon soccer alumni, some of whom Casavant coached in his first tour of duty as NMCC’s soccer coach.
The game is a highlight of NMCC’s Homecoming and 50th Anniversary Gala weekend. More than two-dozen former players have agreed to return to play against this year’s team. Activity will begin with a brunch and pep rally at 11 a.m. in the Edmunds Conference Center.
Also on the Homecoming schedule is a home game against Southern Maine Community College, the first official contest of the year for the Falcons. That game will take place on Sunday, Sept. 11, at 3 p.m. on the soccer field at the Gehrig T. Johnson Athletic Complex adjacent to the Presque Isle Middle School.
As athletic director, Casavant steps into the position held by Lori Googins who will continue in her teaching role on campus, but is stepping aside from the athletic director position this academic year as she pursues her doctorate degree.
