PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Former University of Maine at Presque Isle standout skier Joey Bard has been named the new men’s and women’s head ski coach at the university.
Athletic director and former head ski coach Paul Stone will step down from his post later this year.
Bard graduated from UMPI in 2014 and left an indelible mark on the Owl ski program. A 2012 member of the Maine All-State first team, he helped to elevate the Nordic skiing program at UMPI, with outstanding finishes throughout his career in the ultra-competitive Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association.
A two-time Junior National All-American, Bard was exposed to some of the most outstanding training methods from several international coaching greats and U.S. National ski team coaches, while a member of the Maine Winter Sports Center team for more than a decade.
Hiring committee chairperson Mike Holmes said there were many reasons Bard was the logical choice for the position.
“What the committee really liked about Joey was that he was not only an accomplished skier, but also had worked with college athletes, had a real passion for the university and had a clear vision for how to advance the program,” Holmes said.
Bard is extremely familiar with the current student-athletes racing for the Owls, as he has volunteered his time with the team for the past two seasons and has helped several UMPI skiers reach personal bests.
“He (Bard) helped me to my two best performances in my time at UMPI,” said Lydia Streinz, a sophomore skier at UMPI. “Joey has a real passion for the sport and the university. That passion really motivated us when he stepped in last year for Paul (Stone).”
Bard has worked with a wide range of athlete abilities as a ski instructor at Bigrock Mountain, from the novice, to his longtime friend and former Caribou High School teammate, Russell Currier. Currier is a 2014 Olympian in biathlon and like Bard, a MWSC veteran. They have been friends since the seventh grade.
“The university offers exceptional training and educational opportunities for student-athletes seeking to compete at the collegiate level,” noted Bard. “My goal is to take the program to the next level, attract more athletes and develop a program competitive with any in the East.”
