BANGOR, Maine — Jonathan “Gabby” Price, who put the Husson University football program on the map after the school re-instituted the program in 2002, is expected to return to coach the Eagles next season.
Husson will officially announce the new coach at 1 p.m. Tuesday in the D. Bruce MacGregor Sports Hall of Fame Room in the Newman Gymnasium on the Bangor school’s campus.
Husson director of athletics Bob Reasso wouldn’t confirm or deny the appointment Monday, and Price said he preferred not to comment at this time.
Price will replace Sean Murphy, who stepped down after two seasons to become the school’s men’s lacrosse coach. Murphy is also an assistant athletic director.
The Eagles went 2-8 overall and 1-6 in the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference this fall after going 0-10 and 0-7 the previous year.
Murphy replaced Niles Nelson, who went 5-14 in two seasons including 1-9 in his second season. Nelson, who inherited the job from Price, was fired after the second season.
The fiery Price, an outstanding motivator and communicator, built the Husson program from the ground up, starting with preclub team status.
He compiled a 25-28 record in his six seasons including a 19-10 mark over the last three campaigns. He resigned following the 2008 season in which the Eagles went 7-3 and played in the ECAC Division III Northeast Bowl.
The Eagles had 114 players on their roster in 2008, but that number dwindled significantly after Price’s departure.
Before coming to Husson, Price had two different stints as the head coach at Bangor High School, compiling a 129-52-1 record and notching two state Class A championships.
The 63-year-old Price, a former Bangor High and University of Maine standout athlete, is also a successful businessman.
He co-owns the Ground Round and Pepino’s restaurants in Bangor and owns the Taco Stand in Brewer as well as the Corner Store in Bangor.
Awesome news for Husson. It seems “every time he tries to get out they pull him back in”. Good luck Coach.
A nice man, too. He was our gym teacher, temporarily, back in the 70s when they stuck the 6th-graders in the old high school on Harlow Street. He was genuine and didn’t take any guff from students. We were always told if we called him “Gabby” we’d be in a great deal of trouble! He owned the Fairmount Market for a time, too. Great member of the community.
Greatest football coach I have ever had. this next generation of husson football players are extremely lucky to have this man at the helm.
“Husson will officially announce the new coach at 1 p.m. Tuesday in the
D. Bruce MacGregor Sports Hall of Fame Room in the Newman Gymnasium on
the Bangor school’s campus.” Room named after another great coach and Betsy Webb’s father. Go Gabby!!
Played under Gabby at Husson University, there is truly no one better suited for the job. An incredible motivator and character builder. No question he will move the program back in the right direction.
great hire by Husson. Sad that Coach Price had to resign the first time after doing a great job building a program. Looks like Husson got rid of the real problem.
Gabby would regularly outrun my sorry axx when he ran the ball for John Bapst and I waddeled around Bangor’s freshman football team at tight end
Great move for Husson and their students, Gabby and Maine sports in general.
Price is a true Rennaisance citizen of our community and a role model for all.