Abbott Accepts Two-Year UMaine Athletic Director Appointment
Contact: Joe Carr at (207) 581-3571, joe.carr@umit.maine.edu
To arrange interviews with Steve Abbott, contact Laura Reed at (207) 581-3646
ORONO — University of Maine President Robert Kennedy announced today that Steve Abbott has agreed to accept a two-year appointment as UMaine’s athletic director.
Abbott has served as UMaine’s interim athletic director since last August. Over the past seven months, Kennedy says, Abbott has shown the leadership skills, vision and commitment that make him ideally suited to continue leading UMaine’s 17-team Division I program.
“I have been most impressed with Steve’s performance in this important leadership role,” Kennedy says. “He has proven to be an effective manager in a complex environment, an exceptionally capable fundraiser who inspires support, and a dynamic leader who fosters the appropriate balance in the lives of our student-athletes.”
An Orono native whose father, Walt Abbott, is a former UMaine professor and football coach, Abbott was the 1984 football captain during his senior year at Harvard. He is a former practicing attorney who graduated from the University of Maine School of Law and also studied sports management in the University of Massachusetts graduate program. Abbott served as Sen. Susan Collins’ chief of staff for 12 years before stepping down to pursue the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 2010.
The two-year appointment takes effect on June 1, 2011. It is subject to formal approval by University of Maine System Chancellor Richard Pattenaude.
“I am really enjoying this opportunity and I look forward to continuing as part of the UMaine community,” Abbott says. “I’m convinced that the program’s future is very bright. I intend to work with my UMaine colleagues and our many supporters to build on the traditions and the enthusiasm for UMaine sports that have given us such a great statewide fan base.”
Kennedy, who is stepping down as president after seven years at the end of June, says that the two-year appointment will give Abbott the opportunity to continue building on the experiences and successes of the past seven months while providing steady leadership as UMaine’s incoming president, Paul Ferguson, transitions into his new role and determines his long-term plan for the athletic director’s position.
Kennedy also says he has spoken with Ferguson, who is supportive of Abbott’s appointment.
“I appreciate Steve’s willingness to continue in this role,” Kennedy says. “His outstanding work during this academic year gives me confidence that this fixed-length appointment is in the best interests of the university, our student-athletes and the athletic program in general. We are fortunate that Steve’s capabilities and his commitment to the University of Maine allow us to move in this direction at this time.”
Note: in university human resources parlance, the word “interim” does not apply to a person serving a fixed-length appointment.