University of Maine men’s hockey coach Tim Whitehead is counting the days before the 2010-11 season gets under way.
He doesn’t have to worry about the pressure attached to the final year of a contract, as he recently signed a three-year extension, making it a four-year deal.
UMaine athletic director Blake James confirmed Tuesday that Whitehead signed the extension a month ago and he will receive a $5,000 raise that he has received every year since signing his last contract after the 2003-04 season when Patrick Nero was the athletic director.
Whitehead will make approximately $170,000 per year.
“I’m very happy with the extension. The raise has always been in place to account for inflation,” said Whitehead, who will begin his 10th year behind the Maine bench next fall and has a record of 199-126-36 for a winning percentage of .601.
Including his five years as the head coach at UMass-Lowell, he has a combined record of 275-221-47 (.550).
The university is under the constraints of sizeable budget cuts, but James defended the decision to extend Whitehead’s contract and continue the policy of issuing him an annual raise.
“I think people in the community will feel what we’ve done is very fair. It’s the right thing to do and we handled it the right way. If they assessed the situation, I feel they’d come to the same conclusion,” said James.
He said Whitehead’s extension is “well-deserved.
“There’s no one better to lead our program. I was very happy to see the growth of the program, and I know Tim, the players, the fans and the administration want to see them back in the NCAA tournament competing for a national championship,” said James.
“Tim is the person to do that. I’m confident in that. There’s no question he’s the right man for the job,” he said. “It wasn’t a difficult decision to make.”
He also said Whitehead is conscientious in adhering to rules and regulations and stressing the importance of academics and community participation in the student-athlete’s curriculum.
“The players are not only representing our institution, they’re representing the entire state,” said James.
Whitehead’s salary is in the ballpark with other Hockey East coaches at public universities.
According to a story by The Boston Globe’s Bob Hohler, University of Massachusetts coach Don Cahoon makes a salary of $199,379 and UMass-Lowell’s Blaise MacDonald takes in $170,000. The Burlington Free Press listed Vermont head coach Kevin Sneddon’s salary at $170,000, and Foster’s.com, the website for Foster’s Daily Democrat in New Hampshire, had University of New Hampshire head coach Dick Umile’s 2008 salary listed at $196,660.
Whitehead, a former UMaine assistant coach (1990-91), acknowledged he would have felt some pressure next season if he hadn’t been tendered an extension.
“But I’ve always put more pressure on myself than anyone else can,” said Whitehead, who pointed out the extension is important “because it is essential to have the support of the university so the coaching staff and I can continue to recruit elite players and move forward. Our staff is real excited to keep moving forward.
“I’m really pleased with the progress we’ve made in recruiting the last couple of years. It has really made a difference in what we can do offensively. And it’s a lot of fun,” said Whitehead, whose Black Bears were the No. 4 scoring team in Division I (3.67 goals per game) and had the nation’s best power play (27.7 percent).
After two disappointing 13-win seasons that ended a string of nine consecutive NCAA tournament appearances for the program, six under Whitehead’s regime, the Black Bears came one win away from returning to the NCAA tourney this past season. They lost to eventual national champion Boston College 7-6 in overtime in the Hockey East championship game.
Maine was picked to finish eighth in the preseason Hockey East coaches poll but finished tied for third and hosted a quarterfinal series for the first time since the 2005-06 season and eliminated UMass Lowell in three games.
Maine then upset Boston University 5-2 in the semifinals before losing to BC despite erasing three two-goal deficits to force overtime.
Maine had 12 freshmen and sophomores in the lineup that faced BC in the title game.
The Black Bears finished 19-17-3 and wound up 18th in the final U.S. College Hockey Online national poll.
Whitehead feels significant progress has been made in the program.
“I’m thrilled about the direction of where the program is going, and I’m excited to see us take another step next season. The staff and I can’t wait until the puck drops,” said Whitehead, a six-time finalist for the Spencer Penrose Trophy awarded to the national coach of the year. He received the award in the 2001-02 season when he led Maine to the national championship game in his first season after succeeding the late Shawn Walsh.
“It’s going to be a great challenge,” added Whitehead, who will return 11 of his top 12 scorers and his entire defense corps.
He feels he continues to improve as a coach.
“Experience certainly helps a ton in the coaching profession,” he said. “Having to fight through adversity certainly makes you stronger, tougher and smarter. That has certainly been the case for us. We want to focus on getting better and grab that elusive third national title.”
Maine won NCAA championships in 1992-93 and 1998-99 and has made 11 Frozen Four appearances including four under Whitehead.