The University of Maine at Farmington Athletics Department hired three new coaches this year. Two all-star alumni and a rockstar newcomer joined the coaching ranks.
Words and photos by Ryan Mastrangelo
After competitive national searches for three open head coaching positions, the UMF Athletics Department could not have been luckier when Sam Leal ’14, Sean Cabaniss ’17, and Bridget Lawless threw their hats in the game. When all three accepted offers earlier this year, they couldn’t have imagined what their first season at Farmington would look like.
Sam Leal ’14, the new UMF men’s basketball head coach.
“It feels great to be home,” said Leal, UMF’s new head coach for men’s basketball, “It’s truly a dream come true.” Leal finds himself stepping into big shoes, those of recently retired, and long-time coach, Dick Meader. “I keep calling Coach Meader for advice every other week,” says Leal, who has a great relationship with his former coach from his time as a UMF Beaver. “I felt prepared for the transition to head coach,” says Leal, who coached at Bates College for a season before coming back to Farmington. This summer and fall have not been without its challenges, but Leal says his players are staying positive and are excited for the privilege to be practicing, in some form, come mid-October. The student-athletes currently have limited access to the gym and are practicing in small groups, following the health and safety guidelines set out by the CDC, the University, and athletic-division affiliates.
“As a former player, he is one of us. He has the knowledge, leadership ability, and work ethic to be an outstanding coach,’ said coach Dick Meader, who retired at the end of the 2020 season.
Leal says his top priority is building trust and relationships with his athletes. For the first four months on the job, he met with students-athletes online. “I am thankful for FaceTime,” said Leal, “it’s totally different than in person, but it has definitely helped with this transition.
Leal has his sights set on a January start to a shortened season, with practices beginning in mid-October.
One of the many lessons Leal says he learned during his time at Farmington as a student-athlete was to value consistency. “We always knew what to expect from Coach Meader. He was clear with his expectations and goal, and that’s something I am trying to replicate in my coaching style.” It’s hard to be consistent in a time when things are constantly changing, but for now, there’s a consistent message of support for the team as they use their extra free time to improve themselves academically and to continue team-building. Leal and his team have their sights set on a possible shortened season, beginning this January, and eventually, when things settle down, to get some experience on the national stage at an NCAA Tournament. “Our goal will be to get there. We’ll do it the right way, the way it’s been done for many, many years. “
Sean Cabaniss ’17 joins the athletics department staff as the new UMF men’s and women’s track and field and cross country head coach.
Sean Cabaniss ’17 was working as a part-time assistant track coach at Tufts College and at UNUM as a disability insurance agent when he got the call about the open track and field and cross-country head-coach position at Farmington.
“When I graduated and I decided that coaching was what I wanted to do, I knew in my heart that I would eventually come back, I just didn’t know when that would be,” says Cabaniss, who went on to Smith College to earn a masters of science in exercise and sports studies degree as a graduate assistant with the track and field teams. “Coming back feels so much better than I could have imagined, especially to coach for a team that you love so much.”
In 2012 as a student-athlete at UMF, Cabaniss and his fellow teammate, Josh Wynne ’16, founded the track and field program with the hopes of it becoming a varsity sport. In 2016, that dream became a reality when outdoor track and field went varsity, followed three years later by its indoor counterpart.
“There’s no better feeling than to coach the program that was such an integral part of your life in college,” Cabaniss said.
Thinking back, Cabaniss says he was hoping to create something that was “bigger than just me.” This same notion is one that he’s carried forward with him as a coach at UMF. Since the competitive seasons were canceled, Cabaniss has been focusing on building team culture. “In a normal season, we don’t necessarily have the time to really focus our attention on certain things,” says Cabaniss. Things like the rules of being a part of a Division III varsity track and field program, what it means to be a good teammate, and what it means to be a part of something bigger. “Even though we’re working towards a goal that’s in the distance,” says Cabaniss, who has hopes of attending the outdoor track and field championship that’s scheduled for April 2021, “we need to be doing our part right now to get there.”
Cabaniss is eager to grow his roster and establish more consistency for the team’s successes.
The team has been training in phases, building on intensity, and volume each week. He’s holding his athletes accountable both in practice sessions and in the classroom. Cabaniss knows that many, if not all, of his athletes, chose Farmington because they could get a great education at an affordable price and be able to play NCAA Division III athletics. “As a student-athlete, you need to give everything you can to the team, but at the same time you need to be pushing even harder in the books.” Now, with more time available to dedicate to academics, Cabaniss wants to make sure they maintain a good balance. “Teaching life through sport is really important, and I think UMF has so much to offer in that way.”
Moving forward, Cabaniss hopes to double his rosters and win a cross country championship in the next two to three years. He’d love to win a track and field one, too. “I’d like to be more consistent in our successes. It should be an expectation.”
As the only true newcomer to the coaching staff, Lawless says she’s been welcomed with open arms by staff and students, alike. “Coming to a new area and campus, you never know what to expect, but it’s been a really positive transition.” Lawless graduated from Salem State University, where she played lacrosse, served as team captain, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sport and movement science. Since graduating she’s earned US Lacrosse Level 1 and 2 certificates and anticipates completing her master’s degree in Sport Leadership at Endicott College later this fall. She joins Farmington after a two-year stint in Pittsburgh as an assistant coach for Washington & Jefferson College.
New to UMF, Bridget Lawless replaces Beth Lebel ’14 as the head coach for lacrosse.
“I was really looking for a public, liberal arts university to continue my career at, and it worked out that this position opened up at the right time. Coach Lebel did a great job establishing the building blocks here at UMF, and I am hoping to continue to build that strong team culture,” says Lawless. Building the roster, growing the team’s lacrosse IQ, and getting good recruits moving forward are among Lawless’ goals for the program in the next few years.
“This team of women went to the championship in 2019, so I know we can do it again, despite the circumstances surrounding this year’s competitive season, says Lawless. The jury is still out on whether they’ll compete this year. Lawless has her fingers crossed.
Lawless plans to continue cultivating a rich team culture of support, lacrosse IQ, and resiliency.
The lacrosse season was cut short last year, so Lawless is using Fall Ball as a way to get the team back on the field enjoying themselves, while also training and assessing the team’s strengths.
“Being on the field and being together has been a huge positive for them,” says Lawless.
One of her primary goals during this unusual fall semester is to introduce first-year team members to their new teammates so that when January and February roll around, everyone is on the same page. Strong relationships are keys to success.
“My goal right now is to continue to give my players the information that they need to be successful, says Lawless. “They need to know why we’re doing certain things, and how it will help them be better players on and off the field, and in life after college.” Resilience is another key to a team’s success, and that’s, even more, the case during a pandemic, she says.