University of Maine Sports Hall of Famer Lynn Coutts, who had a tremendous softball career before becoming the head softball coach and senior associate director of athletics at her alma mater, has been named the athletic director at UMass Lowell.
She is the first woman to be named athletic director at the Massachusetts school, which competes in the same leagues as UMaine (America East and Hockey East).
Coutts had been the associate vice chancellor and deputy director of athletics and the senior women’s administrator at the University of Denver.
Denver won the NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey title this past season.
“I am excited for the opportunity to lead a positive high-energy environment inspiring student-athletes, coaches and staff to achieve world class excellence in the classroom, in competition and within the campus community,” said Coutts in a press release from UMass Lowell.
Coutts, whose maiden name is Hearty, is a native of Shawville, Quebec and she owned the school records for innings pitched, strikeouts and wins in a season and a career when she graduated from UMaine.
She played from 1983-87 and was a captain from 1985-87.
The former Northeast All-American became the UMaine softball coach in 2011 and spent four years as the head coach before being promoted to senior associate director of athletics by then-UMaine athletic director Karlton Creech.
Creech moved on to Denver and hired her to join him.
Coutts’ husband, Mike Coutts, had assisted her at UMaine and took over the head coaching position after she was promoted. She helped out as the pitching coach until she became too busy with her responsibilities as the senior associate athletic director.
In the press release, Creech said “Lynn’s impressive achievements as a student-athlete, coach and administrator have fully prepared her for this role. In addition to her athletic and professional excellence, Lynn is one of the best connectors and relationship-builders that I have ever met.”
UMass Lowell chancellor Julie Chen said she was thrilled to have Coutts on board.
“She demonstrates a passion grounded in personal experience, professional success and determination,” said Chen. “Her desire to grow this position, working not only with the coaches and student-athletes but across the UMass Lowell community is one of many reasons I know she will succeed leading the River Hawk team.”
Josh Berlo, the University of Denver’s vice chancellor for athletics and Ritchie Center Operations, called her a “savvy administrator with a complimentary background in coaching and deep roots in the northeast.”
