- Dale Duff Reporting ([email protected])
The University of Maine has hired one of its own to be the new men’s basketball coach, former player/captain and assistant coach Chris Markwood.
He takes over a program that saw Richard Barron stepped down as UMaine coach in February and assistant coach Jai Steadman took over as interim head coach. The Black Bears finished the season 6-23 (3-15 AE).
Markwood played his high school basketball at South Portland and won the 2000 Mr. Maine Basketball Award. He played two years at Notre Dame and then transferred to UMaine and played for two seasons. Markwood graduated from UM in 2005.
“I am deeply humbled and honored to be the new head men’s basketball coach at the University of Maine,” Markwood says. “I would like to thank Director of Athletics Ken Ralph and President Dr. Joan Ferrini-Mundy, who are united in their strong vision for the future of Black Bear basketball. The state of Maine, and the University of Maine, are home to me and have always held a special place in my heart. I am extremely excited for the opportunity to partner with our student-athletes and lead this program to new heights. Go Black Bears!” – UMaine Press Release
Markwood spent his first five years after his playing days as an assistant at UMaine. From there he went on to be an assistant coach at Vermont for three years, at Northeastern for seven years and was associate head coach the final three years there. This past year, Markwood was an assistant at Boston College.
“Coach Markwood is everything we could hope for in a men’s basketball coach,” Ralph says. “He is a Maine native, a UMaine alum, a former Black Bear captain, and a long-tenured, successful assistant coach with significant experiences in the Northeast. His outstanding work and documented accomplishments at Maine, Vermont, Northeastern and Boston College has fully prepared him to be a head coach. UMaine men’s basketball got a lot better today. We are thrilled to be able to welcome Chris and his family back to Orono.” – UMaine Press Release
Markwood is married to a former UMaine women’s player, Ashley (Underwood) Markwood. They have two daughters.