Barron named men’s basketball head coach, media report

The Bangor Daily News, Portland Press Herald, News Center Maine and WABI (Channel 5) reported Richard Barron, University of Maine special assistant to the director of athletics, has been named head coach of the men’s basketball team. Following coach Bob Walsh’s decision to not seek a contract extension, the university moved forward with the appointment of Barron. “I’m very happy and very humbled that the administration felt that I was valuable here and had something to offer, especially to these men’s basketball players,” said Barron, who guided the UMaine women’s basketball team to a pair of America East regular-season titles and three straight postseason appearances over six seasons as head coach before going on medical leave in January 2017, the BDN reported. Barron has signed a five-year contract, effective March 5.