Jack Cosgrove to transfer into senior associate director of athletics role

University of Maine head football coach Jack Cosgrove has announced that he will transition from his college coaching role into a senior associate director of athletics position at his alma mater.

A national search for a head football coach will begin immediately.
Defensive coordinator Joe Harasymiak will assume the role of interim head coach.

“I am honored to accept this position and embrace an opportunity to work toward a new vision for UMaine athletics,” said Cosgrove. “I am excited by Karlton Creech’s leadership and commitment to excellence. I believe, together, we can profoundly influence the future of UMaine athletics.”

“It is with great excitement that we welcome Jack onto our senior leadership team in the Department of Athletics,” says Director of Athletics Karlton Creech. “Our entire department will now benefit from Jack’s many talents. His successful tenure as our head football coach has prepared him perfectly for this new role, and the list of ways that he can help our department is seemingly endless.

“For me personally, Jack’s new role will be invaluable. Jack’s passion for UMaine Athletics is unmatched,” Creech says. “I can’t wait to get to work with him as we develop a new vision for Maine Athletics. I respect and admire Jack Cosgrove, and it will be a privilege for me to work side by side with him in the coming years.”

Cosgrove, named UMaine’s head coach on Feb. 22, 1993, has the most wins (129-135) in the history of the football program. Under Cosgrove’s leadership over the past 23 years, the Black Bears won three conference championships and made five NCAA postseason appearances.

After graduating from the University of Maine in 1978, Cosgrove spent two years as a graduate assistant with the Black Bears. Following a two-year stint at Boston College, Cosgrove returned to UMaine in 1987 as the coach for quarterbacks and receivers, helping guide the team to its first NCAA playoff appearance. Cosgrove was promoted to pass game coordinator in 1988 before being named Maine’s offensive coordinator in 1989.

As a student-athlete, Cosgrove was a two-time second-team All-Yankee Conference quarterback and an ECAC All-Star for the Black Bears. Cosgrove currently ranks as the 10th all-time leading passer in Maine football history with 2,836 career yards.

Including his undergraduate years and his assistant coaching tenures at Maine, Cosgrove has dedicated 34 years to the University of Maine — more than any other current Colonial Athletic Association head coach.

“I have known Jack Cosgrove for more than two decades and have tremendous respect for what he has been able to accomplish as our head football coach,” says University of Maine President Susan Hunter.

“I appreciate his longevity and loyalty in the service of his alma mater, and his tireless devotion to the success of student-athletes. I now look forward to the strategic contributions he will make to our university in his new role as senior associate director of athletics. I know the entire UMaine community joins me in congratulating Jack on this new opportunity in his career.”

Aside from developing athletes on the field, Cosgrove remained focused on guiding students to success in the classroom. Over the last 10 years, the football program has achieved NCAA Academic Progress Rates above 950, including a 980 mark in 2008-09. The Black Bears have produced numerous CAA All-Academic honors, CAA Student-Athlete of the Year selections in 2013 and 2008 and M Club Dean Smith honorees in 2013, 2008 and 2001.

Cosgrove earned his bachelor’s degree and master’s in educational administration from UMaine in 1978 and 1981, respectively. He then became the head football coach at Stoughton High School (Mass.), where he also taught American history from 1981–84.

Cosgrove, a Sharon, Massachusetts native, graduated from Sharon High School. He and his wife, Marilyn, are the parents of twins, Matthew and Carly, and daughters Sydni and Jeri.

COSGROVE OVERVIEW:

23 seasons as head coach at UMaine
129 career wins, most in school-history
90 league wins, fourth most in league history
3 NCAA Playoff victories
264 games coached, more than any other head coach in program history
20 All-Americans coached
3 NFL Draft Picks
3 Buck Buchanan Award finalists (FCS Defensive Player of the Year)
2013 & 2004, defeated FBS opponents (UMass/Mississippi St.)
2002 — School-record 11 wins
2013 — hosted first-ever NCAA playoff game at Alfond Stadium (vs. UNH)
2013 Maine Sports Hall of Fame Inductee
2013, 2008, 2001 Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year finalist
2013 — CAA Coach of the Year & American Football Coaches Association FCS Region 1 Co-Coach of the Year, Gridiron Club of Greater Boston Bowl/Championship Division Head Coach of the Year,
2013 & 2011 New England Football Writers FCS Coach of the Year
2001 — American Football Monthly I-AA National Coach of the Year
2001 & 1996 — Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year