PaulStone enters his first full season as the Director of Athleticsafter nearly two years as Interim Director of Athletics. Thisis his 5th year as the head coach of the men's and women's nordicskiing programs.
Thedesignation of Stone to head of UMPI athletics was one of the firsthirings for new president, Dr. Linda Schott.
"Oneof the first changes I made was to have the interim AthleticDirector report directly to me instead of to the Vice President forStudent Affairs, and I have enjoyed getting to know Paul Stone andlearning more about our athletic programs. I anticipateworking with Paul to determine how to move athletics forward, howto recruit a permanent Athletic Director, and to make progresstoward getting UMPI into a conference," said Schott.
WhileStone's appointment was for the 2012-13 school year only Schottdecided to hold off on hiring a permanent Director of Athletics foranother year so she could get a better sense of the university andthe role of athletics here at UMPI.
Stonecame to UMPI from ski-powerhouse University of Vermont, where heserved as head Nordic Coach for the past four seasons, and where hewas named NCAA Eastern Coach of the Year in 2009. He also has beenthe interim head coach of Colby College (2004-2005 season) andWilliams College (2003-2004), prior to taking over the UVM programin 2006. He was also the head coach of southern Maine-based CoastalNordic Ski Team for the 2005-2006 season. Stone has coached twoNCAA Champions and placed skiers in the top 10 at Junior Olympics,NCAA Championships and U.S. National Championships.
"InPresque Isle we have early snow, a 10-minute drive to one of theworld's top Nordic venues, a passionately supportive community, theMaine Winter Sports Center, exciting events like World Cup's andWorld Championships and a quality University that is the best valuefor student-athletes in NCAA skiing," said Chris Corsello, UMPI'sAthletic Director. "Now in Paul, we believe we also have the personwho can pull all these pieces together and establish ourprogram."
"TheUniversity of Maine Presque Isle has so much going for it, Ibelieve it is only a matter of time before the high school skiersin the East discover the opportunities here," Stone said. "The costof the colleges that offer an NCAA ski team today puts skiing outof reach for many, but UMPI offers a great education, some of thetop skiing facilities in the world and all at half the cost of mostschools."
"Webelieve that, in time, University of Maine at Presque Isle skierswill compete against the best college skiers in the country and inPaul's years of coaching at the University of Vermont, Williams andColby colleges, he has clearly shown that he is the person to takeour program to that level," former UMPI President Don Zillmansaid.
Asa high school junior, Stone was one of the top skiers in thecountry, qualifying for the World Junior Championships in 1994. Hewent on to ski for Dartmouth, making their Carnival Team all fouryears. He won the Cooke Award his freshman year as the topfirst-year skier, was named MVP of the team in 1997 and was athree-time captain, qualifying to compete at NCAA Championships in1995, 1996, 1997, and 1999.
UMPIcompetes in the Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association. Thedivision includes Bates, Bowdoin, Colby, Dartmouth, Harvard,Middlebury, St. Lawrence, St. Michael's, University of NewHampshire, University of Vermont, Williams and the University ofMaine at Presque Isle.
Studentsinterested in skiing for UMPI are encouraged to contact Coach Stoneat (207) 768-9475 or email timothy.stone@umpi.edu
