GORHAM, Maine — Rachele Burns has returned home.
After spending five years at the University of Maine, the Gorham native has been hired as an assistant women’s basketball coach at the University of Southern Maine.
Burns, who works as a physical education teacher at Gray-New Gloucester High School, will be joined as a newcomer on the staff by Sam Allen of Bridgton.
“It is a tremendous asset to have the caliber of assistant coaches on our sidelines this season that Sam and Rachele represent,” veteran head coach Gary Fifield said in a press release. “I am excited to have two very successful local athletes join our coaching staff and to begin working towards our goals this season.”
Burns, a former Gorham High School three-sport standout who earned all-state honors in soccer, basketball and softball, went on to compete for the Division I University of Maine women’s basketball team. Though her career was plagued by knee injuries, she served as a student assistant coach under head coach Richard Barron during the 2012-13 season.
In that role, Burns was involved with recruiting, travel arrangements, scouting report preparation, planning practice and fundraising activities.
Last winter, she appeared in 11 games for the Black Bears. In 2014, Burns was selected by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association as one of 50 participants for its “So You Want to Be a Coach” program.
Burns graduated from the University of Maine with honors, earning a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and Physical Education.
Allen previously was the director of basketball operations at the University of Vermont and was on the Catamounts coaching staff for two seasons. The former Miss Maine Basketball finalist at Lake Region High School played at Division II Southern New Hampshire University and finished her career at Colby College in Waterville.
Allen helped Colby earn its first-ever national ranking and NCAA tournament bid in 2009-10.
Prior to her stint at UVM, Allen was an assistant coach for two seasons at Smith College, which captured an ECAC New England title in 2012.
Allen earned her bachelor’s degree in administrative science from Colby in 2010 and received a master’s degree in exercise and sports studies at Smith in 2012. In 2010, Allen was selected to attend the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s “So You Want to Be a Coach” program.
Bowdoin’s Caputi to step down
Dave Caputi has announced that he will step down as head football coach at Bowdoin College in Brunswick at the conclusion of the 2014 season.
Caputi is in his 15th season as head coach of the Black Bears, who are 2-2 this season and 35-81 (.302) during his tenure.
“After a good deal of thought and conversations with [Bowdoin Ashmead White Director of Athletics] Tim Ryan, I have decided that this will be my last season as head football coach at Bowdoin,” Caputi said in a press release. “These last fifteen years have been very rewarding for me, and I have had the opportunity to work with some really great people.
“I look forward to the chance to do something new. I am excited and focused on our remaining games this season and working with our students and staff in support of our football program,” he added.
Caputi joined the Bowdoin athletic staff in the spring of 2000 after serving as the offensive coordinator for Williams College. Previously, Caputi served as the quarterbacks and secondary coach for Tufts University from 1985-86.
Caputi earned his undergraduate degree in American history at Middlebury College in 1981. He was the starting quarterback for a Panthers squad that went 6-1-1 in 1980. In 1994, he earned his master’s degree in education from North Adams State College in Massachusetts.
“Dave Caputi has been devoted to the development of well rounded, high achieving leaders within our football program, and the commitment he consistently demonstrated to our students and staff throughout his time at Bowdoin is greatly appreciated,” said Ryan.
A national search will be conducted for Caputi’s replacement at the conclusion of the 2014 season.
Leal to coach at USM
Sam Leal, a 2014 graduate of the University of Maine-Farmington, will join the University of Southern men’s basketball coaching staff for the 2014-2015 season.
Leal was two-year captain for coach Dick Meader at UMF, where he led the Beavers in assists during his senior season (2013-2014) and helped guide UMF to the championship game of the 2014 North Atlantic Conference tournament.
Leal was also a member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) 2012-2013 Honors Court.
Leal was a three-sport athlete at York High School, where he played four years of varsity baseball and varsity basketball, a year of golf and a year of football, earning Western Maine All-Conference honors in both basketball and baseball.