ORONO, Maine (AP) - Maine football coach Jack Cosgrove will step down after 23 years and become a senior associate director of athletics.
The university announced Tuesday that Joe Harasymiak will become interim coach while it conducts a national search for Cosgrove’s replacement.
Cosgrove has the most wins (129-135) in the history of the football program. Under Cosgrove’s leadership, the team won three conference championships and made five NCAA postseason appearances.
Cosgrove said he’s looking forward to working with athletic director Karlton Creech on a “new vision” for sports at the school.
“I believe together we can profoundly influence the future of UMaine athletics,” he said.
After graduating from Maine in 1978, Cosgrove spent two years as a graduate assistant with the Black Bears. Following a two-year stint at Boston College, he returned to Maine in 1987 as the quarterbacks and receivers coach. Cosgrove was promoted to pass game coordinator the following year and became offensive coordinator in 1989.
He is also the 10th all-time leading passer in Maine football history with 2,836 yards.
Creech said the 59-year-old Cosgrove’s new role will be a senior leadership position within the athletics department.
“His successful tenure as our head football coach has prepared him perfectly for this new role, and the list of ways that he can help our department is seemingly endless,” Creech said.
Cosgrove coached 20 All-Americans and three NFL draft picks. He also led the team to a pair of wins over NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision opponents and is a member of the Maine Sports Hall of Fame.
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