ORONO, Maine — The University of Maine has named Seth Woodcock as the new associate athletic director for development.
Woodcock, who worked in development at Maine Medical Center for the past nine years, will assume the role as the lead major gift fundraiser for athletics at the University of Maine.
“We are excited to have an alumnus of Seth’s caliber join the University of Maine team,” said Director of Athletics Steve Abbott. “It is a tremendous time for Maine athletics as we continue to move forward with many exciting projects. Seth will be a great asset in helping achieve our fundraising goals.”
Woodcock fills the position left vacant last year by Pat McBride, who has since taken a similar job at the University of Vermont, where his wife is the head women’s basketball coach.
“I consider it a privilege to return to my alma mater in a professional role,” said Woodcock. “It is an exciting time in Black Bears athletics and I look forward to working with my colleagues and our supporters to ensure that UMaine scholar-athletes continue to be put in the best position possible to achieve their hopes and dreams; both as a scholar and an athlete at our state’s flagship university.”
UMaine also is early in the process of advertising for a new position in the department, senior associate athletic director. That person hired for that job will be the No. 2-ranking administrator.
Woodcock, who will receive a base salary of $89,900, will be working to complement the efforts of Mike Hodgson, UMaine’s Assistant Athletic Director for Development.
“Mike works with annual fund giving, the smaller donations,” Abbott explained. “He has a lot more day-to-day athletic department responsibilities.”
Woodcock’s position is more closely aligned with the development office, which is headed by Eric Ralston, UMaine’s Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations. However, his efforts will be strictly related to athletics.
“Seth’s position is in the development office, where he will be more of a major gift officer,” Abbott said. “He’ll be focused more on larger, long-term gifts.”
Seth Woodcock is the son of Chandler Woodcock, the commissioner of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
Chandler Woodcock ran for governor and was defeated by John Baldacci in 2006. Woodcock is also a former state senator and high school English teacher who coached the Mt. Blue High School girls basketball team to two state titles in 1999-2000.
A native of Farmington, Seth Woodcock is a 1995 graduate of Mt. Blue High School. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Maine, earning a BA in mass communication in 1999. An avid outdoorsman, Woodcock and his wife, Liz, have two daughters, Lily and Alexis.
UMaine lands Canadian twins
The UMaine women’s soccer program on Thursday announced the addition of two players for the upcoming season.
Coach Scott Atherley said twins Eve L’Abbe and Joanie L’Abbe of Laval, Quebec, have joined the Black Bears. Eve is a forward, while Joanie plays defense.
Eve played at the Canadian National Training Center and competed for Team Quebec at Canadian All-Stars in 2010. She helped Ahuntsic College finish third at the 2011 national championships.
“Eve is a powerful and dynamic attacking player,” Atherley said. “She is very dangerous in 1-v.-1 situations because of her speed and technical qualities.”
Like Eve, Joanie was a member of the CNTC and was a Team Quebec choice in 2010 and led Ahuntsic to a runner-up finish at the Provincial Championships in 2011, when she was an all-tournament pick.
“Joanie is a smart defender,” Atherley said. “She has outstanding positional sense and she is very difficult to beat in 1-v.-1 situations.
Thank God another conservative Republican will help to control UMaine. AD Abbott, of course, long worked for Sen. Collins as her chief of staff. I recall his contempt for the Occupy Movement last fall, citing athletes as doing so much more for American society. Now he has the son of one of Gov. LePage’s cabinet members to assist him. Chandler Woodcock’s campaign made John Baldacci look smart when they ran against each other for the latter’s re-election bid.
G.O.P. should be renamed G.O.B. (Good Old Boy) Network. The creation of this position and putting Seth Woodcock in it is nothing more than quid pro quo amongst Republicans. Don’t even bother going to Augusta to ask for more money Abbott, I’ll be the first in line to urge the Legislature NOT to fund any of your pet projects.
This seems like a very uneducated comment. Perhaps you should do your research and understand Seth’s great track record at Maine Medical Center, his strong work ethic, ability to raise money, and his love for his alma mater. If you are a supporter of Maine Athletics you should be applauding not trying to make this some political battle.
bloodlines are all over Maine in both parties to keep the sheep in order.
Congratulations Seth, played golf with him during our time at UMaine
Woodward (Mr. March) will be named the new Sr Assoc AD. That you can take to the bank.
Current Odds:
Mr. March 2:5 odds
The Field 25-1 odds
Book em’ Dano!
Folks may want him to move from being the Men’s Basketball Coach to the Sr. Associate AD but it doesn’t solve anything. The guy has zero experience helping running the Athletic Dept.. It would be a bad hire what they need is someone who has experience at this position. Because Abbott has done an awful job as Athletic Director he is out of his element in this job. Sure he fired Blodgett and hired Barron but that is it the only thing he has done right. He has not solved UMaine’s future issues in Athletics because America East is crumbling infront of everyone’s eyes. With rumors that UNH is Patriot League bound joining BU which left for the Patriot a few weeks ago. With Rumors that Stony Brook and Possibly Albany both CAA bound. Abbott has to find a place to put UMaine’s Athletic Programs. Because they can’t stay in a league that is a dying ship if everyone starts bolting. They already have issues with the Baseball now its down to 6 teams that plays baseball once BU leaves. If more leaves it’s the end of the America East as an automatic qualifier and as a conference. So they need to get a grip on their issues they have major ones. I have complained about Cozzy, Teddy , Timmay and Maine’s future in the America East just as much as anyone. But to shift Teddy from one position to another is not the answer we don’t need the Athletic Dept. screwed up anymore than it is now. Hire someone who has D-1 conference experience and can help UMaine strengthen its athletic programs and get them in a stable growing conference where it can thrive in the future.