Around The USCAA - 10/3/16

Around the USCAA is a weekly article that highlights current happenings, key matchups, and relevant news stories from across the association. If you have a relevant news piece that you would like considered for inclusion please send it to info@theuscaa.com.

Haviland, Assante To Assist 2016-17 Lady SeaWolves

SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine— The Southern Maine Community College Head Women's Basketball Coach Katie Bergeron has announced the program's assistant coaches for this 2016-17 season. Bergeron is pleased to have Patrick Haviland and welcome Sarah Assante to the SMCC coaching staff. The team will begin practices Monday, October 3 in preparation for its first game on October 22.

Patrick Haviland

Patrick Haviland is entering his 13th season as an Assistant Coach for the Lady SeaWolves basketball program. Throughout his coaching career at SMCC, Haviland has helped guide the program to a 206-123 overall record (.626), has captured five conference titles, and made six USCAA National Championship appearances. Last season, Coach Haviland helped lead the team to a program best 23-10 overall record and punch yet another ticket to the USCAA National Tournament. 

Haviland's primary basketball responsibilities include player development, academic accountability, and recruitment.  In addition to his coaching duties, Haviland works for SMCC in the Advising Office. His knowledge of the academic side of SMCC has been a valuable asset to the team's recruiting efforts and a tremendous resource for student-athletes in the program.

Bergeron stated, "Pat is such a great asset to me as a new coach as well as a resource to the girls. He has been with the program for 13 seasons now, and works right on campus. He was an integral part of our new recruiting class. His knowledge of the league and what it takes to be successful both on and off the court at SM is crucial for our team's overall success."

 Sarah Assante

Sarah Assante is a 2015 graduate of Saint Joseph's College of Maine, where she received her Bachelor's degree in Business Administration in Accounting. There she played as a four-year point guard under Coach Mike McDevitt. She served as captain of the women's basketball team her junior and senior seasons, and was selected to the All-GNAC Second Team (2015) and earned GNAC All-Academic honors (2013, 14, 15). Assante led the Lady Monks to a GNAC Championship Title in 2015, their first as a program. She is just the third player in Saint Joseph's history to tally at least 500 points, 350 rebounds, 250 assists, and 150 steals. In addition to her accomplishments on the court, Assante served as the President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and as the Vice President of Academic Senate.

Prior to joining the SMCC coaching staff, Assante worked as the Assistant Varsity Basketball Coach at Windham High School for one season. She is also currently a coach for the Maine Renegades AAU program.

Assante hails from Standish, Maine and was a standout four-year varsity player at Bonny Eagle High School for Coach Sue Rondeau.

In what Assante can bring to program, Bergeron commented, "Sarah is going to bring incredible amounts of energy, enthusiasm, and knowledge of the game to the team this season. I've seen her as a player and as a coach, and I immediately knew I wanted her to join my coaching staff. She will serve as a tremendous role model for the girls and has a great eye for the game which will be extremely helpful for practice planning, game strategy, and recruiting!"

*Article Courtesy of Southern Maine Community College Athletic Website

Burton, Chicoine, Cichon and LeMieux to Assist 2016-17 Men’s Basketball

SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine— The Southern Maine Community College Head Men's Basketball Coach Matt Richards has announced the program's assistant coaches for this 2016-17 season. Richards is pleased to have Ryan Chicoine, Chad Cichon, John LeMieux and welcome AJ Burton to the SMCC coaching staff. The team will begin practices Saturday, Oct. 1 in preparation for its first game Oct. 22.

AJ Burton

Burton comes to SMCC from the University of Detroit Mercy having completed his Master's degree in Liberal Studies and his Graduate Assistantship with the women's basketball team.

Burton hails from Brown City, Michigan where he began his collegiate playing career at St. Clair County Community College. In 2010, he led his Skipper team to an eighth place finish at the Junior College National Tournament.

Burton later transferred to Rochester College where he received his Bachelor's degree in Sport Management and continued his basketball career. He was crowned a USCAA National Champion in 2013. Burton was a USCAA All-American selection in 2014 and was named to the AII All-Conference and All-Tournament team in the same year.

Ryan Chicoine

Chicoine returns to the SeaWolves staff for his fourth season and will continue to have primary responsibility for the program's post play development and in-game bench coaching.

"Over the previous three seasons, Ryan has done an outstanding job preparing our post players and offering the skill sets needed to be successful," stated Coach Richards.

Prior to joining the SeaWolves coaching staff, Chicoine served as the Head Boys Varsity Basketball Coach at Gorham High School for three seasons. He inherited a program that had missed the SMAA postseason five consecutive seasons. Chicoine rebuilt the program, focusing on a youth development strategy, and took the team to the Western Maine Regional Tournament in his final season.

During his playing days, Chicoine was a four-year member of the Plymouth State basketball program. He captained the team his senior year and was an All Little East selection. In 2004, the Panthers made an appearance in the NCAA Northeast Region Tournament. In addition, Chicoine was a four-year standout for Coach Kevin Jenkins at Gorham High School. These teams were perennial Western Maine Conference champions.  

Chad Cichon

Cichon begins his 13^th season on the sidelines for the SeaWolves, all with Coach Richards. His duties include the recruitment of student-athletes and the in/off-season conditioning programs. During his span as an assistant, SMCC teams have outscored opponents in the second half 10 of 11 seasons. Coach Richards attributes having this edge over opponents to Cichon's efforts in the conditioning regiments he provides. Cichon continues to attend strength training conferences and clinics for which he uses this knowledge to help SMCC be one of the strongest and best conditioned teams within the Yankee Small College Conference.

Cichon is a former player at the college. He played for Coach Don Mead's 1997-98 squad that finished with a 12-15 mark.

"Coach Cichon is an outstanding assistant coach for us," said Coach Richards. "He really has an understanding of the game, and his work ethic in keeping the team in top condition has become so valuable to the program. He has been with me since day one and his loyalty to the program has certainly helped with our continued success. He has really become a rock of the program."

Cichon has been a staff member for the Y.E.S. to Youth Program, Gold Star Basketball Camp, SMCC SeaWolves Position Play Camp/Skill Development Clinics, Seacoast Hoops Basketball Camp, and the New England College Coaches Showcase Camp. Cichon works for SMCC's Maintenance Department and resides in South Portland.

John LeMieux

Prior to joining the SeaWolves coaching staff, John LeMieux was a long-time NCAA coach with stops at Indiana University, Kent State University, University of Pittsburg, Keene State College, Colby Sawyer College, and the University of Southern Maine. LeMieux was Coach Richards' freshman basketball coach while at Colby Sawyer.

During his time at Keene State, LeMieux won an ECAC Championship.

Coach Richards stated, "I have the utmost respect for Coach LeMieux's knowledge of the game. He was instrumental in developing my passion for coaching. He still goes down as the coach that can develop the best scouting report I've ever met."

LeMieux will serve as an advisor in which he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the coaching staff.

*Article Courtesy of Southern Maine Community College Athletic Website

Key Weekly Matchups

Men’s Soccer

10/5/16 – Vermont Tech at College of St. Joseph’s Vermont – 4:00 P.M. EST

10/5/16 – Mitchell College at Dean College 4:00 P.M. EST

10/5/16 – SUNY Delhi at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences – 7:00 P.M. EST

10/7/16 – Florida National University at Concordia College of Alabama – 4:00 P.M. EST

10/8/16 – University of Maine Fort Kent at Dean College – 12:00 P.M. EST

Women’s Soccer

10/4/16 – NHTI at Hampshire College - 3:45 P.M. EST

10/9/16 – University of Maine Fort Kent at SUNY-ESF - 12:00 P.M. EST

10/4/16 – Penn State Schuylkill at Penn State Brandywine – 2:00 P.M. EST

Volleyball

10/5/16 – Penn State Fayette at WVU Tech – 6:00 P.M. EST

10/6/16 – MacMurray College at Iowa Wesleyan University – 7:00 A.M. CST

10/8/16 – Illinois Tech University at Berea College – 10:00 A.M. EST

10/3/16 – Florida National College at Keiser University – 7:00 A.M. EST