USM Announces Athletic Department Reorganization

Gary Fifield Named Associate Director of Athletics

Mike McDevitt Named Interim Women’s Basketball Head Coach

September 3, 2008

GORHAM, Maine  --  The University of Southern Maine Athletic Department today announced a major reorganization within the department and introduced a new interim women’s basketball head coach at a press conference held at the Costello Sports Complex.

USM Director of Athletics, Al Bean, announced that veteran women’s basketball head coach and Assistant Director of Athletics, Gary Fifield, has retired as women’s basketball coach and is assuming the new role of Associate Director of Athletics.  Bean also announced that Mike McDevitt, an assistant coach with Fifield for the past five seasons and former head coach at St. Joseph’s College, has been named interim head coach of the women’s basketball program for the 2008-2009 season.  Both moves are effective immediately.

In prepared remarks, Bean said, “Gary Fifield's retirement as women's basketball coach is among the most significant personnel decisions in the history of this athletic program.  When Gary came to USM in 1987, he followed in the footsteps of a legend in Dr. Richard A. Costello.  During his own 21-year tenure on the bench, Gary built his own legacy, and in the process, elevated USM women's basketball to be among the truly elite programs in the nation.  His team and personal records are truly astounding at any level in any sport.

“The Huskies domination of the Little East Conference with Gary at the helm is nothing short of amazing and the numbers are staggering,” continued Bean.  “It's tough to imagine USM women's basketball without Gary leading the team from the bench.  I want to personally thank Gary for his incredible commitment to our student-athletes and the women's basketball program.  His efforts have truly made a difference for our students and for the University of Southern Maine.

“In addition to his prowess as a basketball coach, Gary is a very capable administrator.  He has been an immeasurable help to me and the entire staff in his dual role as an assistant director.  With the recent departure of an assistant director from our department, significant administrative responsibilities needed to be reassigned.  Coincidentally, for the past couple of years, Gary and I have been discussing his possible retirement from coaching and a shift to full-time administrative responsibilities.  The staff departure opened the door for Gary and I to reopen that discussion about reshaping his duties.  Working in consultation with Vice President Craig Hutchinson, we came to agreement for Gary to assume significant administrative responsibilities as the department's first associate director of athletics.  I'm extremely confident that he will impact the department significantly in his new role and will help to guide and mentor our younger staff members.

“While an incredible chapter in USM coaching history comes to a close, we could not be more confident and more fortunate than to turn to Mike McDevitt to lead the program in the coming year.  When Gary and I discussed his retirement and the prospect of turning the program over to someone to carry on, the list was extremely short.  At the top of that very short list was Mike McDevitt.  His decision to accept the one-year appointment made this restructuring a reality.  We are familiar with Mike's work as the former head coach at St. Joseph's College and for the past five years as an assistant on our bench.  Mike will be a great fit, maintain continuity with our program, and we welcome his addition to our staff.  I have great confidence that he will continue the great tradition of our women's basketball program.”

In 21 seasons as USM women’s basketball coach, Fifield compiled a 541-86 record and led the Huskies the NCAA Division III Final Four five times (1988, 1998, 2000, 2005, 2006), including three appearances in the national championship game.  At the end of the 2007-08 season, his .863 winning percentage was the highest among active Division III coaches with five or more years on the sidelines, and his 541 career wins ranked seventh among active coaches.

During that span (1987-2008), he guided the Huskies to 17 Little East Conference tournament championships, including 11 straight from 1997 through 2007, and won or shared the LEC regular season crown an amazing 19 times.  Last season, Fifield led the Huskies to a 25-4 overall record and a 13-1 regular season mark in the Little East Conference.

Fifield guided the Huskies to an NCAA tournament berth in 20 of his 21 seasons as head coach.  His teams won 20 or more games every season, extending the Huskies’ streak of consecutive seasons with 20 or more wins to 28, an NCAA Division III women’s basketball record.  Six players combined to win the Little East Conference Player of the Year award 11 times, and five players were named to the WBCA/Kodak Division III All-America team.

Among his numerous honors, Fifield was named the WBCA Division III National Coach of the Year in 2005 after leading the Huskies to 31-3 overall record and a third-place finish in the NCAA tournament.  He also was named Little East Conference Coach of the Year 13 times.  He served as an assistant coach at the U.S. Olympic Festival in 1993, and was inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003.

Fifield came to USM from South Royalton (Vermont) High School in 1987, succeeding legendary coach, the late Dr. Richard “Doc” Costello, as women’s basketball coach. He also coached the USM men’s soccer program for five seasons (30-35-10).

McDevitt returns to the sidelines after spending the past five seasons as an assistant coach at USM.  During that time, he helped the Huskies run up a remarkable 144-14 record, make four trips to the NCAA “Sweet Sixteen” and two appearances in the Final Four. 

During his 16 seasons (1987-2003) as head coach at St. Joseph’s, McDevitt compiled a

326-117 record (.736 W-L pct) and guided the Monks to seven conference titles.  His teams won 20 or more games 12 times, made seven appearances in the NAIA national tournament and he was named Maine Athletic Conference Coach of the Year five times (1988, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1999).

Prior to becoming the head coach at St. Joseph’s, McDevitt served as an assistant coach of the men’s basketball team for three seasons (1984-87).  The St. Joseph’s alum also had stints as the Monks head coach for men’s golf (1997-2004) and women’s volleyball (1987-92).  McDevitt was the Director of the Alfond Center for five years (1999-2004) and was an assistant athletic director at St. Joseph’s for nine years (1990-1999).

A four-year starter for the Monks men’s basketball team while earning a degree in business administration, McDevitt scored 1,381 points and grabbed 674 rebounds during his playing career.   He was named the Western Maine Athletic Conference Player of the Year for the 1982-83 season, and received six all-conference, all-district and all-state citations over the course of his four years.

Gary Fifield’s Record at USM Year-by-Year

                                          Overall                                                        Little East

Season                  W          L           Pct.                          W          L           Pct.             Place

1987-88                 27          3          .900                          10          0        1.000                1st

1988-89                 25          3          .893                          10          0        1.000                1st

1989-90                 25          5          .833                            9          1          .900                1st

1990-91                 23          7          .767                            7          3          .700              T2nd

1991-92                 26          4          .867                            9          1          .900              T1st

1992-93                 25          4          .862                          10          0        1.000                1st

1993-94                 22          7          .759                          11          1          .917              T1st

1994-95                 23          4          .852                          11          1          .917                1st

1995-96                 25          4          .862                          11          1          .917                1st

1996-97                 25          4          .862                          11          1          .917                1st

1997-98                 29          3          .906                          14          0        1.000                1st

1998-99                 25          4          .862                          13          1          .929                1st

1999-2000            26          6          .813                            9          5          .643              T2nd

2000-01                 20          7          .741                          12          2          .833              T1st

2001-02                 25          3          .893                          13          1          .929              T1st

2002-03                 26          4          .867                          13          1          .929                1st

2003-04                 29          2          .935                          14          0        1.000                1st

2004-05                 31          3          .911                          14          0        1.000                1st

2005-06                 32          2          .941                          14          0        1.000                1st

2006-07                 27          3          .900                          13          1          .929                1st

2007-08                 25          4          .862                          13          1          .929                1st

Totals                   541        86          .862                       241        21          .919

Mike McDevitt’s Collegiate Coaching Record Year-by-Year

                                          Overall                                                      Conference

Season                  W          L           Pct.                          W          L           Pct.             Place

1987-88                 21          9          .700                            7          1          .875                1st

1988-89                 20          8          .714                            5          3          .625               2nd

1989-90                 25          5          .833                            8          0        1.000                1st

1990-91                 24          5          .828                            8          0        1.000                1st

1991-92                 23          8          .742                            6          2          .750               2nd

1992-93                 24          5          .828                            7          1          .875                1st

1993-94                 23          5          .821                            8          1          .889                1st

1994-95                 22          6          .784                            6          2          .750               2nd

1995-96                 16        11          .593                            4          5          .444                4th

1996-97                 14        13          .519                            6          6          .500               3rd

1997-98                 12        12          .500                            6          6          .500               2nd

1998-99                 20          7          .741                          10          2          .833                1st

1999-2000            22          5          .815                            8          2          .800               2nd

2000-01                 22          5          .815                          11          1          .917                1st

2001-02                 23          3          .885                          12          0        1.000                1st

2002-03                 15        10          .600                          na        na

Totals                   326     117          .736                       112        32          .778