BANGOR, Maine — The years have been kind to Purdue University women’s basketball head coach Sharon Versyp.
Despite spending the last 11 years coaching in the demanding Big Ten Conference, the former University of Maine women’s basketball coach hasn’t aged much since leaving Orono to take the head coaching job at Indiana University in 2005 and then at Purdue University a year later.
That’s probably because she is doing something she loves.
Versyp will be doing it at least through the 2021-2022 season after she signed a six-year contract extension in June.
The Mishawaka, Indiana, native has returned to the Bangor area as her Boilermakers face UMaine in the Tip-Off Tournament opener at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor on Friday at 5 p.m.
Mississippi State, the nation’s 10th-ranked team, plays Villanova at 7.
Games are slated for 5 and 7 on Saturday night, with UMaine playing the second game against an opponent to be determined by Friday’s play.
Versyp is embracing her return.
“It brings back such great memories,” said the 50-year-old Versyp prior to a Thursday morning practice at the Cross Insurance Center.
“This is where I started my head coaching career. Amazing people … a great program I was able to inherit. It’s an exciting time. Rich [UMaine head coach Richard Barron] has done a real good job. It’s nice to see the crowds are back. It’s a great style of basketball.”
Versyp said she is grateful to former UMaine athletic director Sue Tyler for hiring her in in 2000.
“I always say that I appreciate and thank Sue Tyler for giving me an opportunity, because half the time you just need that opportunity to succeed and she really had the faith and confidence in me,” said Versyp, who led UMaine to a 98-51 record, three America East regular-season championships, an America East tournament title and NCAA tournament berth.
She was the two-time America East Coach of the Year and her last three UMaine teams combined for a 49-3 regular-season league record.
Her 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 teams became the first in school history to post back-to-back 25-win seasons (25-6, 25-7).
Versyp will always have a soft spot in her heart for the people, the Friends of Maine Women’s Basketball booster group and her colleagues on campus.
“People appreciated everything in a simple way. They really just cared about the important things in the world. Then there are all the players who played during my tenure and all the coaches. We were very successful and it was nice to do that. Some of them will be back this weekend,” Versyp said.
She has stayed in touch with quite a few people in Maine, saying “Facebook is an amazing thing these days. It’s fun.”
Versyp, who was selected Miss Indiana Basketball in 1984, feels blessed to have been able to come to Maine “and be successful and then be able to get the IU [Indiana] job in the Big Ten [followed by the Purdue job].
“I feel honored every day. I don’t take it for granted,” said Versyp. “It’s an extremely tough academic institution, so we have to find the great student-athlete. We have things that are a lot tougher at our place than other places in the country, but I wouldn’t want it any other way because that’s what I’m about … a student of the game.”
Versyp is the winningest women’s basketball coach at Purdue, compiling a 214-120 record with four Big Ten tournament championships and eight NCAA tournament berths, including two trips to the Elite Eight.
She quipped that whenever she watches video of a UMaine home game, she “loves and misses the Black Bear. That’s one of the most impressive logos I’ve ever been a part of or been associated with. It gets me real excited.”
The logo is emblazoned on the Cross Insurance Center Court and it was on the court at the University of Maine’s Alfond Arena in Orono.
“Alfond Arena will always be dear to me because that’s where we played. But I appreciate that it’s not cold in here,” chuckled Versyp.
She is impressed with the Cross Insurance Center and the growth in Bangor.
“Seeing a facility like this and the growth down in Bangor bodes well for the community and that’s what’s really important,” she said.
Versyp brings a young but talented Purdue team to the tournament. The Boilermakers are coming off a 20-12 season and an NCAA tournament berth.
“I like young teams because of their energy level and because they don’t know any better. They’re eager and hungry,” said Versyp, who lauded Barron for putting together a top-notch tournament.
“Maine is very young but they have a lot of international kids with a different flair and a different style. Everyone for Villanova can shoot the ball and Mississippi State has everybody back and is one of the top 10 teams in the country. You’re going to see different styles, which is great this early on,” said Versyp.
The four teams were a combined 94-41 a year ago.
Also returning to Maine is former UMaine field hockey coach and senior woman administrator Terry Kix, who is the director of basketball operations at Purdue.
“It’s really heartwarming coming back to Maine. I have such fond memories,” said Kix, who led her field hockey teams to a 174-109-5 record over 15 seasons and was the America East Coach of the Year four times.
“Great people and a time in my life that was really filled with a lot of gratitude,” said Kix, a cancer survivor who will celebrate her fourth year in remission in April.
“The cancer battle was real tough but it reiterates what’s really important in life,” Kix said.
She is also happy about the job UMaine field hockey coach Josette Babineau has done with the program.
“Josette has done an amazing job. She is relentless and has done a great job landing the Canadian recruits. I’m very proud of her and how she has elevated the program and kept things really exciting,” said Kix.