PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Tim Whiton has been hired as the new head Nordic ski coach at the University of Maine at Presque Isle.
The position became vacant earlier this year when Joey Bard resigned to pursue other interests.
“I am very pleased that Tim will be joining the coaching and admission staffs of the university,” said UMPI President Ray Rice in a press release. “His extensive experience and success in Nordic skiing, from racing at a high level through college, to coaching top junior programs and colleges, will ensure that we can build upon our Nordic program’s competitiveness and success.”
Whiton was most recently the general manager at Fleet Feet Sports Tri-Cities in Johnson City and Kingsport, Tennessee. His duties included community outreach programs, organization of events and fundraisers, operating social media platforms and newsletters and managing two specialty running stores.
Prior to his time in Tennessee, Whiton has amassed an abundance of nordic ski coaching experience at a variety of levels. He began his coaching career in 2009 at Bowdoin College. In the two years to follow, Whiton was part of a program that steadily became competitive.
In 2011, Whiton accepted the position of Nordic skiing competition program director at Gould Academy in Bethel. He worked with high school-age athletes, some of which became top junior national competitors.
Whiton then spent two seasons as the assistant Nordic ski coach at Montana State University, where he was responsible for team training and recruiting responsibilities. During that time, the team boasted two NCAA first team All-Americans. Whiton returned to Bowdoin College for another season in 2015-16.
Whiton is a 2009 graduate of Bates College. He was an NCAA Division I Academic All-American during his time there. He earned a master’s degree at Montana State University while serving in a graduate teaching assistantship role.
“I am excited to be joining the UMPI ski team,” said Whiton in the release. “The team has had some great recent results to build from and I would love to see the team challenge for a top spot at NCAA’s in the coming years.
“More importantly, UMPI and its ski team offer a unique and awesome opportunity for more student-athletes, particularly skiers from Maine, to develop into high-level skiers. With national caliber trails and training venues, the best skiing and longest ski season in the Northeast and strong academic programs, UMPI is a great place for young people to develop as people and skiers,” he added.
Whiton also will be working as an admissions counselor on campus. He is set to begin his duties June 5.
