The University of Maine introduced Richard Barron as its new women's basketball coach on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 in a press conference at "The Pit" in Memorial Gymnasium.  

"Coach Barron brings a remarkable combination of experience, vision and energy to the University of Maine," says Director of Athletics Steve Abbott. "He exemplifies all the characteristics we were looking for in a head coach, particularly a track record of success at top-quality academic institutions competing at the Division I level."

Barron comes to the University of Maine after a two-year stint at North Carolina State where he served as an assistant coach under Kellie Harper. In Barron's first year with the Wolfpack, the Tennessee native helped guide the team to the NCAA Tournament with a 20-14 record. A team that was predicted to finish ninth in the preseason, ended up finishing tied for fifth in the ACC standings while making it to the 2010 ACC Tournament Finals.

Barron is well renowned for his fantastic recruiting as he spent two seasons at Baylor prior to his time at NC State as the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator with the Bears. During his time at Baylor, Barron was responsible for landing the consensus top-ranked player (Brittney Griner) and the top ranked recruiting class of 2009 while also assisting in coaching the Bears to the Big XII Tournament Champions.

Baylor compiled a 54-13 record to go along with two trips to the NCAA tournament, including a run to the Sweet 16 in 2008-09; in the two seasons Barron was with the Bears' staff.

Barron began his Division I head coaching career at Princeton as he spent six seasons at the helm of the Tigers' program. After taking over the program fresh off a 2-25 season prior to his arrival, Barron guided the Tigers to an 11-16 record in his first season, making Princeton one of the most improved teams in the country that year. During his six years at Princeton, Barron managed the Tigers to an Ivy League title in 2005-06, setting a school record for overall wins (21-7) and conference wins (12-2).

Prior to his time at Princeton, Barron spent five seasons at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn. In his final season at the University of the South, Barron guided the squad to its first ever conference championship and a No. 8 national ranking in Division III.

Barron posted a 77-48 record during his tenure at Princeton while coaching five different players to All-Ivy League honors. Prior to his time coaching the Sewanee women, Barron was the assistant men's coach at Sewanee for four years. Barron comes to the University of Maine with an 11-year head coaching career record of 152-139.

In the summer of 2006, Barron looked to expand his coaching knowledge as he traveled to Treviso, Italy with the NBA's Phoenix Suns to observe and study under current New York Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni. In 1998, Barron was one of just three collegiate coaches selected to serve as a floor coach at the American Basketball League's combine. He also served as the Ivy League Representative for the Women's Basketball Coaches Association from 2003-06.

Barron, who grew up in both Florida and Tennessee, graduated from Kenyon College with a B.S. in biology. He graduated cum laude after being named to the dean's list all eight semesters. Barron played both basketball and baseball while at Kenyon.

Barron and his wife, Maureen, a former Princeton softball coach, are the proud parents of six-year-old twin daughters, Lane and Rae, and a four-year-old son, Billy.