The University of Maine at Presque Isle basketball teams will make their season debut under new coaches this weekend.
The men’s team, coached by Dan Kane, will compete in the Charlie Ryan Classic Tournament at Thomas College in Waterville Friday and Saturday.
Kane replaces Mike Holmes, who guided the Owls to a 12-11 record during his third and final season a year ago. Kane, a graduate of UM-Farmington who was an assistant coach at both UMF and at Connecticut College, also serves as UMPI’s athletic director.
The Owls take on Pine Manor College of Newton, Massachusetts, in the opener at 7:30 p.m. Friday and then square off against UM-Machias on Saturday at 3 p.m.
The first home game for the men is Tuesday, Nov. 21, against Husson University. Tip off is at 6 p.m.
The Owl women also have a new coach in Gavin Kane, who spent most of his Hall of Fame career as a high school coach at Rangeley, Dirigo and Spruce Mountain but also had stints as an assistant at the University of Maine and UM-Farmington. He takes over for Traci Halvorson, who resigned after one season. The team went 8-16 during the 2016-17 campaign.
UMPI plays Central Maine Community College in Auburn Friday at 5 p.m. and at UM-Machias Sunday at 3 p.m. The team then has a week off before playing on its home floor as Becker College of Worcester, Massachusetts visits Wieden Gym for a matchup at noon on Sunday, Nov. 26.
