Meader calls it quits as DIII basketball coach after four-plus decades at Maine schools
FARMINGTON, Maine (BVM) — For the last 27 years, the University of Maine at Farmington (UMF) men鈥檚 basketball team has been led by the voice of Dick Meader. Heading Division III programs for most of his lifetime, Meader is ready to hang it up after the 2020 season came to a close.
Meader, 73, has been coaching college basketball for 44 years and amassed a total of 513 victories during his time in collegiate basketball. Starting out at Thomas College, he finished his 17-year run winning 160 games before moving over to UMF. Since 1993, Meader has been coaching the Beavers and was able to go out on a high note this past season winning a school record 22 games.
While also reaching the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) championship game, Meader attributes his team鈥檚 success to his fellow assistant coaches who have helped him. Meader has Parkinson’s disease, so he leaned on assistants Nate Carson, Jim Bessey and Jared Browne.
During the 2019-20 season, Meader was able to capture his 500th win on Jan. 20, when his team beat Northern Vermont-Lyndon. He made sure to make it a point of emphasis to finish out the year with his senior group, while hoping to not overshadow their season with his retirement news.
Part of Meader鈥檚 pride during his tenure was the success coming from the hands of Maine athletes. Most of Meader鈥檚 rosters featured players from Maine and he was happy to have shared the accomplishments with those groups. During his time on the court, Meader was able to coach both of his sons, Lance and Daren.
Meader was also co-owner of the Pine Tree Basketball Clinic held at Colby College in Waterville, which ran from 1973-2011. With help from Colby coach, Dick Whitmore, the camp served over 50,000 participants over the years.
In his 44 years of coaching, Meader has been honored with many awards, ranging from his induction into the Maine Sports Hall of Fame, to his five-time NAC Coach of the Year honors. Meader was also enshrined into the Maine Basketball Hall of Fame, the New England Basketball Hall of Fame, and named to both UMF鈥檚 and Thomas College鈥檚 Athletics Hall of Fame.
Meader grew up in the small town of Solon, Maine. He was one of 16 students in his graduating class and went on to be a two-sport athlete at Farmington State Teachers College, which is now known as the University of Maine at Farmington.
Dick Meader officially retired at the end of the academic year in May.
