New Maine Maritime women’s soccer coach has been there before

Bill Ashby is looking forward to his second go-round as head coach of the Maine Maritime Academy women’s soccer team.

He was the coach of the first MMA women’s soccer team in 1997 while he was also in the midst of a six-year run as the men’s soccer coach between 1992-98.

He coached the women for one season before Mike Keller took over both teams.

The Lubec native is replacing Keenan Schaeffer, who stepped down to become the head coach at Davis & Elkins, an NCAA Division II school in Elkins, West Virginia.

Schaeffer guided the Castine-based Mariners to two North Atlantic Conference tournament championships in his three seasons including this past fall. He compiled a 33-21-2 record in his three seasons.

Ashby’s extensive coaching resume includes 451 wins at the college level and three United States Collegiate Athletic Association national championships as the men’s coach at the University of Maine at Fort Kent.

He last coached at the collegiate level at UMFK in the fall of 2017.

“I’m looking forward to being back in the (college) game. That’s for sure,” said the 63-year-old Ashby. “I love to teach sports, I love to teach soccer and I love to coach people.”

Ashby was the physical education teacher at Katahdin Elementary School in Stacyville this past year and also coached the Katahdin High School club girls and boys volleyball teams.

He said two of the reasons he decided to return to MMA were Seth Brown, a major gifts officer at MMA, and Steve Peed, the school’s director of athletics.

Brown played for Ashby at MMA and went on to become the MMA women’s coach.

“Seth is back there now in a fundraising role. I talk to him all the time. And I’ve gotten to know Steve quite well,” said Ashby. “Those were two of the factors along with the program being in a good spot and the athletic program going in a great direction.”

Ashby said it’s a good time to step back in and coach some senior athletes.

Peed called Ashby an exceptional person and leader.

“It is the right place and the right time and he is the right fit,” said Peed.

The former Lubec High soccer standout went on to play for the University of Maine at Machias and he began his coaching career at UMM. His career includes stops at Husson University in Bangor, MMA, the University of Mary in North Dakota, Brescia University in Kentucky and UMFK.

Over 34 years coaching both men’s and women’s college teams, he has put together a record of 451-193-45 including a 224-17-6 record at UMFK.

He noted that Maine Maritime Academy has significantly increased its academic curriculum since 1997.

“The academic offerings have expanded and that will open up more doors to bring in diversified athletes who are looking for different things to study,” said Ashby. “They’ve added international business, marine biology and some other programs that will be pretty good attractors for student-athletes. The female population at MMA has really blossomed over the last 8-10 years.”

Ashby will inherit a team that went 15-5-1 a year ago and loses just four seniors. Nine of the top 10 point-getters will be back along with both goalkeepers.

“My philosophy will be to teach them soccer and make them good, smart players. And we’ll see what we can get done on the field,” said Ashby, who coached the Washington Academy boys soccer team from East Machias to a 16-1 record and a berth in the Class C North final in 2022.