PRESQUE ISLE, Maine – The “Patrick Baker and Aaron Marston Athletics Impact Memorial Award” is awarded to individuals/organizations who have given outstanding service to UMPI Athletics. Such individuals/organizations have gone above and beyond to positively impact the experience we are able to provide our student athletes, as typified by Patrick’s and Aaron’s devotion to UMPI intercollegiate athletics and especially our student athletes. Individuals/organizations for this award could include coaches, administrative staff, members of the media, supporters or sponsors, volunteers, or any special friend of the UMPI athletic department. The award is the most prestigious award presented by UMPI Athletics and will be awarded during the UMPI Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
Patrick graduated from UMPI in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in athletic Training. After graduation Patrick worked at Colby College and returned to UMPI as an athletic trainer in 2011. Patrick was later named the department’s head athletic trainer in 2012 and served in that role until his unexpected passing on Oct. 25, 2020. Along with serving as an athletic trainer, Patrick taught in the athletic training program, helping mentor and mold numerous future athletic trainers. He was instrumental to the success of athletics during his tenure, especially in the planning of the fall 2020 season where he helped set health policies as our fall teams were one of only two colleges in the state of Maine to compete during COVID in the fall semester of 2020.
Aaron graduated from UMPI in 1997 where he was a standout men’s soccer player for the Owls and earned a bachelor’s degree in athletic training. Aaron went on to earn his master’s degree in athletic training from Marshall University in 2003. In 2012, Aaron returned to UMPI as an adjunct professor before becoming a full-time instructor in the exercise science department in 2014.
Aaron’s dedication and love for UMPI athletics continued through all his years. As a professor he served as UMPI’s faculty athletics representative from 2016-18. Aaron also served as a per diem athletic trainer in the spring semesters to help our athletic training staff during the busy winter/spring crossover season to ensure all our teams had coverage at practices. Midway through the 2018 soccer season, Aaron and his wife Keli started to coach the women’s soccer team for UMPI, with Aaron being named the permanent head coach in the spring of 2019. Over the next four years, he would help the women’s soccer program see one of the biggest turnarounds in the nation. In his last season, Coach Marston was named the 2022 North Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year as the Owls finished 5-2-1 in conference play. He passed away unexpectedly on Oct. 19, 2022, four days after celebrating his first-ever recruiting class on their senior day and a 4-0 playoff clinching win over Thomas College. Ten days later the women’s soccer team would travel to Husson to compete in the NAC tournament, playing in their beloved coach’s honor showing the same qualities their late coach had instilled in them through his coaching and teaching.
Executive Director of Athletics and Recreation Dan Kane on Patrick and Aaron, “Pat and Aaron were two individuals that loved UMPI and were extremely proud to be able to give back to their alma mater. They were truly unselfish in their work, always going above and beyond to make sure our student athletes were getting what they needed. From coaching, teaching, and athletic training, to being there to listen whenever a student or colleague needed someone to lean on. They were masters of their craft and unbelievably hard working, but above all they were two of the best people you could ever meet. Pat and Aaron are greatly missed every day, but their impact on UMPI will last forever.”
The first recipient of the Patrick Baker and Aaron Marston Athletics Impact Memorial Award will be announced and the recipient will be honored at the UMPI Athletics Hall of Fame during Homecoming Weekend. The event will take place on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 5:30 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room located in the Campus Center on the UMPI campus. For ticket information to the UMPI Athletics Hall of Fame, please contact Sandra.McDougal@maine.edu or call 207-768-9506.
