Casavant will assume his new position starting July 1, 2008. Casavant most recently has served as Northern Maine Community College's Director of Admissions for 15 years.

Casavant replaces Rich Ward, who, after nine years as UMPI's Director of Athletics, announced in February that he and his family would head west this summer to explore new opportunities.

"We had a deep candidate pool but we found the perfect person for the job close to home," Chris Corsello, Dean of Students, said. "One of the things we're very excited about, and a major reason we selected him, is that Bill gives our athletics program instant recognizability and credibility due to his deep roots in Maine with athletics. We're proud to have him on board."

In his new role, Casavant will oversee the University's 12 intercollegiate athletic teams, affiliated nationally with the NCAA Division III and the NAIA's Sunrise Conference, as well as direct club sports and the intramural sports program. Casavant will also will head up student-athlete recruitment efforts and foster community support of University teams.

"I am excited about returning to the University of Maine at Presque Isle to serve as Director of Athletics. I'm coming home to the place where I received my undergraduate education. Everything I learned here really allowed me to go out and do everything else I've done in these last 40 years," Casavant said. "I appreciate all the opportunities that Northern Maine Community College has given me these last 28 years in athletics and administration. It's an outstanding institution and I have nothing but wonderful memories of all the years I spent there. Looking forward, I'm excited to get started here on campus, working with coaches and implementing our plan to become competitive in the Sunrise Conference immediately."

"Bill's addition to the Athletics Department will go a long way in terms of reconnecting the campus as fully to all of Maine as possible as well as looking for students wanting to participate in a full student-athlete experience," President Don Zillman said. "With his help, we'd like every student-athlete in the region and the state and beyond thinking hard about coming to the University of Maine at Presque Isle."

Casavant, who graduated from the University of Maine at Presque Isle in 1972 with a bachelor's degree in Health, Physical Education and Recreation, has garnered several athletic honors. He was inducted into the second class of the Owls Athletic Hall of Fame in the early 1990's and he was named to the Hall of Honors by the Maine Sports Legends organization as a sports legend from the Northern Region-Aroostook Area.  He earned his master's degree in education from the University of Maine in 1980 and has previously coached men's basketball at Presque Isle.

 

Casavant now resides in Presque Isle with his wife. His three grown children still live in Maine, two are state troopers and one has followed in his father's footsteps, serving as a physical education instructor and basketball coach in Caribou.