Tuesday, September 16, 2003

USM Names Karl Henrikson Men's Basketball Coach

     GORHAM, Maine  --  Karl Henrikson, the former men's basketball coach at the 
University of Maine at Presque Isle and post-graduate boys' coach at Maine Central 
Institute, has been named the new head men's basketball coach at the University of 
Southern Maine.  Al Bean, Director of Athletics at the University of Southern 
Maine, made the announcement late Tuesday afternoon at a press conference 
introducing Henrikson.
     The 47-year-old Henrikson becomes the university's 15th men's basketball 
coach, succeeding Dan Costigan who resigned from the position in August after 
seven seasons to pursue a private business opportunity with the newly created 
Hancock Sports Academy.
     Southern Maine, 4-21 overall and 3-11 in the Little East Conference last 
season, opens the 2003-2004 season November 21-22 at the Trinity College 
(Hartford, Conn.) Tip-Off Tournament.
     "It is a true pleasure to return to the University of Southern Maine after 25 
years. I welcome the opportunity to guide the program to the level of success that 
it enjoyed in the (late 1980's and) early 1990's," said Henrikson referencing the 
era when the Huskies made four straight NCAA tournament appearances.
     "Our immediate goal is to compete in every game we play and challenge for the 
Little East Conference title.  Our long term goal is to have an impact at the 
national level," added Henrikson.
     "Karl has a wealth of experience as an educator and coach and will be a 
tremendous addition to our staff," Bean said.  "In addition to his successful 
college coaching experience at the University of Maine at Presque Isle, Karl has 
worked at the professional level in Europe, spent three years developing and 
mentoring some of the top talent in the nation at Maine Central Institute, and has 
coached at the community college and high school levels.
     "His experience and numerous contacts in the basketball world should serve 
him well as he works to recruit top student-athletes to our program.  Karl cares 
very deeply about USM and about 
the development of student-athletes.  He understands the University and our 
athletic philosophy, and is an excellent choice to lead our men's basketball 
program in the years ahead."
     Henrikson, a 1979 graduate of USM with a bachelor's degree in English, began 
his coaching career as the men's basketball coach at Southern Maine Vocational 
Technical College (South Portland, Maine), in 1978, and coached there for two 
seasons before becoming the boys' basketball coach at Lincoln Academy (Newcastle, 
Maine) in 1980.  
     He went to Springfield College in 1981 to begin work on his master's degree 
and serve as a graduate assistant coach under Dr. Edward Bilik before returning to 
Maine in 1982 as a teacher and boys' basketball coach at Mount Desert Island H.S.  
He completed his master's in education in 1987.
     After a five-year stint at M.D.I., Henrikson took over the boys' basketball 
program at Edward Little H.S. (Auburn, Maine) for two years before being named the 
men's coach at UMPI in 1989.
     While at UMPI, Henrikson compiled a 122-79 record in 10 seasons.  During that 
span, he guided the Owls to a share of the Maine Athletic Conference regular 
season title in 1994-95, and a spot in the conference tournament championship game 
in the 1993-94 and 1995-96 seasons.  His teams enjoyed seven winnings seasons, six 
NAIA District Five playoff berths and an NAIA Top 25 ranking in 1994-95.
     In 1998, Henrikson moved on to serve as the associate head coach of the 
Namika Basketball Club in Lahti, Finland, for one year before taking over as the 
head coach at M.C.I.  In three seasons (1999-2002) at the Pittsfield, Maine, based 
school, he had a 70-22 record.
     A four-year basketball player at USM under former coach Joey Bouchard, 
Henrikson tallied 262 points and grabbed 210 rebounds in 70 career games for the 
Huskies.  He was co-captain of the team in his senior season (1977-78).