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Andrea Thebarge was named interim head field hockey coach for the 2006 season on December 6, 2005 by Maine Director of Athletics Blake James. Thebarge has served as Maine's top assistant coach the past four seasons. "Having been an assistant coach at Maine for the last four seasons under Terry Kix, we feel that Andrea will be able to build on the tradition that has been built by Terry," said James upon her appointment. "Andrea has a great understanding for the game and our goals as an athletic department. We feel that she will continue the success of our field hockey program." Thebarge has been part of the Maine coaching staff that has led Maine to the America East Tournament in each of the past four years. The Black Bears earned a share of the 2005 America East Regular Season Title for the first time in the history of the program. Maine has played in the America East Title game in three of the past four years. Thebarge has been involved in all aspects of coaching while at Maine. In 2005, she was instrumental in leading Maine to its best record in school history in America East Conference play and a spot in the America East Title game. She coached senior back Meagan Connolly who was named the America East Defensive Player of the Year and a 2005 Dartfish/NFHCA Division I All-Region First Team selection. Connolly and Kasey Spencer were both named to the America East First Team, while Shaunessy Saucier, Joanna Fernandes and Kim MacDonald received America East Second Team honors. MacDonald and Katy LePage were each named to the America East All-Rookie Team. In addition to Connolly, Spencer and MacDonald each earned 2005 Dartfish/NFHCA Division I All-Region Second Team honors. In addition to excelling on the field, Thebarge led a group of players who also excelled in the classroom. Connolly, Fernandes and Saucier were each named to the America East All-Academic Team. Maine had 11 players named to the 2005 NFHCA Division I National Academic squad. Twenty-one student-athletes were named to the America East Academic Honor Roll, with 11 receiving Commissioner's Honors, having earned a 3.5 or higher. Maine had 14 players honored as UMaine Scholar-Athlete Award winners. A Skowhegan, Maine native, Thebarge joined the Maine coaching staff in 2002. In the past four years, the Black Bears have posted a record of 55-24. Prior to her arrival in Orono, she served as Region 2 coaching director (Massachusetts) for the United States Field Hockey Association's Futures Program, also serving as head coach of the regional U-19 team. Her responsibilities also included hiring all Futures program head and assistant coaches in Massachusetts, as well as teaching the Futures certification course. Concurrent with her USFHA Futures program duties, Thebarge has served as head coach at the Buckingham Browne and Nichols School in Cambridge, Mass., before Maine. In 2001, she guided BB&N to a second place finish in the New England Prep School Athletic Conference, and the school's first appearance in post-season play. Thebarge was a four-year letterwinner in field hockey at Northeastern, where she earned All-America East honors in 1998 as a midfielder. She played on Northeastern's 1995 and 1996 teams that reached the final four of the NCAA Field Hockey Championship, and she served as a team captain during her senior season. Thebarge had a career-high five goals in 1996, her sophomore season, and finished her career as a Husky with eight goals and 13 assists for 29 points. Thebarge began her field hockey career at Skowhegan Area High School in Skowhegan, Maine, where she lettered in field hockey, basketball, and softball, and served as captain of all three teams as a senior. A 2000 graduate of Northeastern University, Thebarge holds a bachelor of science degree in mathematics, with a minor in secondary education. Thebarge was married in 2002 to Jerrod Thebarge, a former punter for the Maine football team. The couple has a daughter, Samantha, born, January 29, 2005 and reside in Canaan. |
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