Coached four MSCC MVP’s including William Goodwin (1971-72), Marc St. Pierre (1977-78), Mike Kane (1981-82), Mark McElveen (1982-83)

Overall record of 228-113 (.668 win %)

.668 win percentage and his 228 career wins ranks first in UMA history (for both men’s and women’s basketball

Everyone in the local area associated with basketball knew the name, Richard Haskell. Haskell took a club sport from Dr. John Barnard & Dr. Francis O’Connor and started the Men’s varsity basketball program here at the University of Maine at Augusta in 1970. UMA’s inaugural season would see a roster of 16 players mostly from Maine compete in the Maine Small College Conference. That year they boasted an overall record of 16-4 (10-1 in the Maine Small College Conference and finished as co-champions).

A newspaper article once stated that, “Coach Haskell never made himself the program.” Coach Haskell accumulated an impressive overall record of 228-113. That record is good for a .668 win percentage and his 228 career wins ranks first in UMA history (for both men’s and women’s basketball). His contribution went beyond the court; I want to share a quote from former Assistant & Head Coach, Rick Grover, “Dick would deal with each individual kid as a person. The kids came first. He made sure they had a place to stay and something to eat.”

His 228 wins and a .668 win percentage is very impressive but he also had 11 winning seasons, captured six Maine Small College Conference championships and three runners-up. He also coached four MSCC MVP’s including William Goodwin (1971-72), Marc St. Pierre (1977-78), Mike Kane (1981-82), Mark McElveen (1982-83).

Coach Haskell developed a culture at UMA. He was once quoted as telling Steve Solloway from the Central Maine Bureau, “...more of our players are not just coming for one year and then leaving. The last few years I’ve had a nucleus of 5-6 kids I was pretty sure were coming back. This year, not a single kid came that I didn’t want…we’ve never had overwhelming talent, never any big kids, you can count on that year in and year out. We just try to run the ball when we can, try to get the good shot, try to get everyone involved.” It was a team game, a team mentality.

One of Coach Haskell’s former players, Bruce Beasley, shared the following comments, “He was more than a coach to those that played for him. He provided guidance and compassion to his players and supported staff. It was more than building winning teams, it was about building winning people. I know that I am impartial because of the impact that Coach Haskell had on my personal growth.”

We will always remember Richard Haskell, he paved the way for athletics here at UMA, he developed a culture, an expectation and a respect from both players, coaches, officials and anyone who had the pleasure of knowing him.

The impact that Coach Haskell had on the athletic department continues on today; as we still have the C. Richard Haskell Memorial Scholarship which is awarded to a student or students who demonstrate sound academic progress and a desire to learn; in addition they must actively participate in athletic activities using their talent to the fullest.

Never forget Dick Haskell drove an orange corvette…very distinctive! Said former colleague Jon Schlenker. According to former Director of Athletics, Ian MacKinnon, “Dick had class, pride and one of his greatest joys was his orange corvette.”