June 01, 2017 (Presque Isle, ME) –  The University of Maine at Presque Isle is happy to announce the hiring of Tim Whiton as the new Head Nordic Ski Coach. The position became vacant earlier this year when Joey Bard resigned to pursue other interests.

University of Maine at Presque Isle President Ray Rice is pleased with the addition of Whiton to UMPI. “I am very pleased that Tim Whiton will be joining the coaching and admission staffs of the University. His extensive experience and success in Nordic skiing, from racing at a high level through college, to coaching top junior programs and colleges, will ensure that we can build upon our Nordic program’s competitiveness and success.

Tim’s knowledge of Maine, its school programs from the Carrabassett Valley to Caribou, perfectly positions him in terms of recruitment and simply getting the word out to the rest of the state and New England about UMPI’s outstanding opportunities for Nordic skiers. We look forward to both Tim and his wife Tara to joining the UMPI community and returning to the great state of Maine!”

Most recently Whiton was the General Manager at Fleet Fee Sports Tri-Cities in Johnson City and Kingsport, Tennessee. There his duties included community outreach programs, organization of events and fundraisers, operating social media platforms and newsletters, and managing two specialty running stores.

Prior to his time in Tennessee, Whiton has amassed an abundance of nordic ski coaching experience at a variety of levels. He began his coaching career in 2009 at Bowdoin College. In the two years to follow, Whiton was part of a program that steadily progressed into a competative program that valued academic success. In 2011 Whiton accepted the Nordic Skiing Competition Program Director at Gould Academy in Bethel, Maine. There he worked with high school age athletes, some of which became top Junior National competitors.

Whiton then spent two seasons as the Assistant Nordic Ski Coach at Montana State University. There he was responsible for team training and had recruiting responsibilities. During that time MSU boasted two NCAA First Team All-Americans. Whiton then returned to Bowdoin College for another season in 2015-16.

Whiton is a 2009 graduate of Bates College where he majored in Political Science. He was an NCAA Division I Academic All-American during is time there. He earned is Masters at Montana State University in Bozeman, MT while serving in a Graduate Teaching Assistantship role.

“I am excited to be joining the UMPI ski team,” said Whiton. “The team has had some great recent results to build from and I would love to see the team challenge for a top spot at NCAA’s in the coming years! More importantly, UMPI and it’s ski team offer an unique and awesome opportunity for more student-athletes, particularly skiers from Maine, to develop into high-level skiers. With national caliber trails and training venues, the best skiing and longest ski season in the Northeast, and strong academic programs, UMPI is a great place for young people to develop as people and skiers.”

Whiton will also begin working as an admissions counselor on campus. He is set to begin his duties on June 5th.