PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Roger Stinson has been hired as the baseball coach at the University of Maine at Presque Isle for the 2018 season.
He takes over on an interim basis for Mike Pankow, who was hired in early January as the new baseball coach at Bay College in Escanaba, Michigan. Pankow coached the Owls for four seasons, compiling a record of 25-107.
Stinson, who is from Norridgewock, is married and has two sons, one of whom is Will, a sophomore on the UMPI squad.
“I was able to see some of his games last year, got to know Coach Pankow and always wondered, ‘What if?’” Stinson said. “When the opportunity arrived this past winter, my son and some of the boys reached out and talked to me about putting my name in the mix. I thought about it and finally realized I can do it and let’s try.”
Coach Stinson is a graduate of Eastern Maine Technical College and after graduation, began a four-year State of Maine Millwright Journeyman Apprenticeship, which led to a 20-year career with Lincoln Pulp and Paper and Sappi Fine Paper.
Roger Stinson (Contributed)
Stinson’s coaching career began after college with the local Cal Ripken Baseball programs and Norridgewock Recreational Basketball. Continuing his coaching career through travel and all-star baseball and basketball teams, Stinson began coaching at the high school level.
He started as the Madison Junior High School baseball and basketball coach, which led him to become the head baseball coach of Skowhegan Post 16 Junior Legion team. Stinson led the team to a fourth-place state tournament finish. The team had not qualified for the event for 25 years.
He is excited about the opportunity to coach at the collegiate level.
“I wanted to bring my knowledge of the game and my coaching philosophies to the program,” Stinson said. “I told the boys when I arrived that I am ‘old school’ and I truly believe that they want the structure I am bringing to the team.
“I have always prided myself with teams that leave a good impression on the opponents, coaches and fans, but are also competitive,” he said. “They are a great group of guys and I know once we all get on the same page we will be strong.”
