Ed Kohtala begins his third season on the bench of the Black Bears, and his 17th in his coaching career. 

Kohtala assists with scouting and game preparation, as well as working with the post players.

 “I am very pleased to have Ed join our program,” said Woodward at the time of Kohtala’s hire.  “He is a coach of great knowledge, experience, character and intergrity and we are very happy to welcome him as a member of what I consider to be an outstanding staff.” 

Kohtala came to Maine after two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. While at UMKC, Kohtala worked on scouting, recruiting and with post players.

Prior to going to UMKC, Kohtala was the head coach at NCAA Division III Alma College where he coached several All-Conference players while at the helm for six seasons.

Kohtala coached at Texas from 1998-2001 serving as an assistant to head coach Rick Barnes. While with the Longhorns, he helped guide the team to three consecutive NCAA Tournaments and the 1999 Big 12 regular season championship. 

Kohtala went to Texas from Clemson where he coached under Barnes after serving the 1996-97 season as a graduate assistant to Billy Donovan at Florida.

He began his coaching career at Mt. Blue High School shortly after his graduation from the University of Maine in 1981 with a degree in education. He would go on to be an assistant at Bridgton Academy in Maine before being named head coach at St. Edward’s School in Vero Beach, Fla. Kohtala would assist for the varsity program at Vero Beach High School before getting the head coaching job at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School in Georgia and then proceeding to Clemson.

“I have had some great experiences during my career,” said Kohtala. “While with coach Rick Barnes at Clemson and Texas, we participated in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament for four straight years. During those years I worked with a number of excellent coaches and I had the opportunity to help coach seven players who went on to play in the NBA. I enjoyed those years very much as I have the years in coaching before and since. But at this time in my life, I can think of nothing better than to return home to Maine and help coach the Black Bears.”

Kohtala is from Vienna, Maine, and he and his wife, Angie, have two daughters, Camille, who is nine, and Katherine, who is five.