Eric Werntgen will be leaving his position as men’s head basketball head coach, assistant athletic director, and sports information director after 16 years of service at the University of Maine at Fort Kent.
Werntgen has accepted a position with The Sport Source®, a Richardson, Texas based company which provides college planning for high school students in grades 9-12. Werntgen’s focus will be basketball in the New England area, as well as helping students in 23 other sports with his connections to schools using ties from his native Vermont, undergraduate ties from his al-mater University of New England, as well as his professional career at UMFK utilizing relationships forged nationwide, as well as international ties overseas and in Canada. The goal of The Sport Source is to find a school for ALL students..
"The Sport Source® is excited to welcome Eric to the team, and looks forward to working with him. He will be an asset to the company, and an invaluable connection as The Sport Source® expands it presence on the East Coast,” said The Sport Source Founder and CEO Charlie Kadupski.
As men’s basketball coach for the past 11 years at UMFK, Werntgen compiled a 150-155 record (.491 win percentage). His teams appeared in two National Tournaments (NAIA 2010, USCAA 2012), including the first NAIA DII appearance in program history in 2010. Coach Werntgen’s Bengals made nine-straight trips to post-season play (2004-2012); eight straight conference final four appearances (2004-2011); five straight trips to conference championship games (2007-2011); and they were ranked as high as no. 3 in the first year under USCAA affiliation (2010-11). Coach Werntgen’s Bengals finished at no. 6 that year, but were ineligible to complete due to NAIA status. UMFK reached the USCAA D1 National Tournament Final Eight in their first exclusive year eligible (2012).
Coach Werntgen was a three-time Sunrise Conference Coach of the Year (2003-04, 2005-06, and 2007-08). He coached 12 players who were named Academic All-Americans (7 NAIA, 5 USCAA); two USCAA All-Americans; two USCAA All-American Honorable Mentions; five first team all-conference members (Sunrise Conference); seven second team all-conference members; and two conference Rookie of the Years (SC 2007, 2011). Werntgen also was a NAIA DII and USCAA D1 National Men’s Basketball Rater and a USCAA All-American Selection Committee member.
In addition to his men’s basketball head coaching duties, Werntgen served as sports information director for the past eleven years and the assistant athletic director for the past fourteen years.
Werntgen will continue to advocate and promote UMFK from the outside as part of his new endeavors. The Sport Source® is now in partnership with UMFK in offering a University Success On-Line College Credit course. Werntgen plans to remain in the St. John Valley invested in his family and his strong connection to the community. The Sport Source® will enable Werntgen to continue to work with UMFK, as well as a network of 5,800 Universities and 30,000 college coaches nation-wide.
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