Director of Athletics Karlton Creech signs four-year contract to stay at UMaine
Director of Athletics Karlton Creech has signed a four-year contract to stay at the University of Maine, effective Feb. 10.
Creech has directed the UMaine Department of Athletics since 2014.
“Karlton’s outstanding leadership of UMaine Athletics has benefitted the university, the state and Black Bear fans near and far,” said UMaine President Susan J. Hunter. “He is a thought leader, teacher and mentor with a vision for Maine’s only Division I athletic program. He came to UMaine with a strong record of athletics leadership, management and fundraising, and has effectively used those talents in the last three years to advance UMaine Athletics.
“This academic year, Karlton launched a new strategic vision for UMaine Athletics. We look forward to this next chapter in the history of Black Bear Nation,” Hunter said.
The Department of Athletics strategic plan introduced this academic year focuses on five areas known as MAINE — Maine’s team, academic achievement, innovative leadership, new resources and expectation of excellence.
Among UMaine Athletics highlights in the past three years:
- Student-athletes’ academic success, with the overall number being recognized for achievement (GPA 3.0 or higher) increasing annually since 2013. The total number of Scholar-Athletes and Rising Stars (first-year student-athletes after one semester) with GPAs of 3.0 or higher: 261 in 2013; 268 in 2014; 297 in 2015.
- A $1.5 million, three-year award from the Harold Alfond Foundation, establishing the Alfond Fund in the University of Maine Foundation to help establish a centralized fundraising structure for UMaine Athletics, as well as continuing support of the football program.
- A 20 percent increase in annual giving to athletics, including more than $1.5 million raised in gifts and pledges for an endowed fund to support the men’s ice hockey program.
- The effective transition to key UMaine Athletics leadership positions, including the appointment of Senior Associate Directors of Athletics Lynn Coutts and Jack Cosgrove, and promotions of head coaches Joe Harasymiak and Mike Coutts.
- Athletic success, ranging from America East recognition for student-athletes to competition in playoffs and championship games.
Creech will continue to receive an annual salary of $183,855. Private donations will provide annual supplements of $25,000 over the next four years to help bring the director of athletics salary within a nationally competitive range.
Before coming to UMaine in 2014, Creech served as senior associate director of athletics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC). From 2012–14, he was UNC senior associate director of athletics, serving as chief of staff and overseeing the department’s capital projects, human resources and facilities. From 2004–12, he was associate executive director for UNC’s Educational Foundation Inc., where he managed capital projects, the Annual Fund, marketing, fundraising and ticket sales programs, as well as donor stewardship and development.
Creech, a native of Chapel Hill, received a bachelor’s degree in political science from North Carolina State University and a master’s degree in management and leadership from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. He and his wife, Staci, live in Bangor.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to continue leading Maine Athletics,” Creech said. “My time at Maine has been the best of my career. Thank you to President Hunter and University of Maine for entrusting me with this responsibility. I look forward to working with our great team of student-athletes, coaches and staff in the coming years as we pursue excellence.”
Contact: Margaret Nagle, 207.581.3745