ORONO, Maine — Former WNBA player Edniesha Curry has been named an assistant coach for the University of Maine women’s basketball team, head coach Richard Barron announced Tuesday.

“Coach Eddie was highly recommended by world renowned skills coach Ganon Baker, and it was immediately evident why. She is a gifted skill instructor and motivator and will bring tremendous energy to our program,” Barron said in a news release.

“Coach Eddie has an infectious personality and enthusiasm which I know will result in greater productivity with our players,” he added.

Curry joins UMaine after spending the past four years training and developing players across the world with stops in Vietnam, China, Israel and Palestine. Most recently, Curry was the head coach for SSA Basketball in Ho Chi Minh City where she was in charge of the delivery of basketball programs across the city for ages 6-18. Curry produced and implemented all player and coaching development curriculums while serving as camp director.

Curry is the second new hire for the UMaine women’s basketball program within the last two weeks as Mallory Benard was the team’s strength and conditioning coach on June 25. She will also be responsible for basketball operation duties.

They replace assistant coach Sean Smith and director of operations Tracey Guerrette, who have left to pursue other career opportunities.

“We celebrate the contributions of Tracey Guerrette and Sean Smith and will miss their presence on a daily basis,” Barron said. “However, we are thrilled with the addition of Mallory Benard and Edniesha Curry and what they will bring to our program.”

Curry enjoyed a four-year WNBA career after being selected in the third round of the 2002 draft by the Charlotte Sting. She helped lead teams to winning seasons as a point guard for the Phoenix Mercury and Los Angeles Sparks before taking her talents overseas where she competed in Athens and Thessaloniki, Greece, Israel, Hungary and Poland.

In college, Curry played one season at Oregon where she was a member of the Ducks’ WNIT Championship team in 2002. As a senior, she was an All Pac-10 honorable mention.

Benard joins the Black Bears after strength and conditioning stints at the University of Kansas and Springfield College.

UMaine’s Pyne named Clark head coach

J.P. Pyne, an assistant coach at the University of Maine, has been named the head baseball coach at Clark University, Director of Athletics and Recreation Trish Cronin announced Tuesday.

“We are thrilled to welcome J.P. to Clark University to lead our baseball program,” Cronin said in a news release. “His experience and success as a head coach and his strong personality make him an outstanding fit for our program and our department.”

During his two seasons in Orono, Pyne helped the Black Bears to consecutive 24-win seasons and a pair of berths in the America East Tournament. In 2015, Pyne served as the pitching coach, where he developed freshman starting pitcher Justin Courtney into a second-team All-America East selection and unanimous all-rookie team honoree.

“I am very honored and excited to be given the opportunity to lead the baseball program at Clark University,” said Pyne. “It’s clear that Clark is a special place, and there is a great deal of potential for the baseball program.”

USM’s Flaherty named coach of year

The American Baseball Coaches Association has named veteran University of Southern Maine head coach Ed Flaherty the 2015 ABCA/Diamond Regional Coach of the Year for the New England Region.

Flaherty guided the Huskies to a 32-15 overall record this past spring, including a 10-4 mark to capture the Little East Conference regular season title. The Huskies went on to win the LEC tournament championship for the third time in the last four seasons and earning a berth to the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament.

This is the eighth time in his 30-year collegiate career that Flaherty has been named the ABCA/Diamond Regional Coach of the Year. He has compiled a 911-409 record at USM.