In his 22nd year of coaching, Rolland Ranson has been a key part of the Black Bear track and field teams. He coaches the throwers as well as the pole vaulters.

The throwers have flourished in recent years, accumulating numerous scorers in the America East Championships while he has also coached two of the best pole vaulters to school records within the last two years in Mark Liimakka and James Berry.

Among Ranson's coaching highlights are: the field events boosting Maine to the 1995 North Atlantic Conference Championship; coaching five New England field event Champions in 1998; the development of the eighth man in world history to high jump 7'5"; coaching an Olympic javelin thrower and a two-time Olympic shot putter; cultivating NCAA national champions, All-Americans like 1998 javelin thrower Andy Oliver, and USA Junior National Team Athletes.

Ranson is a 1966 honors bachelor of science degree graduate of the University of Western Ontario. In 1973, he left Ohio University with a Master of Science degree, two years of postgraduate work toward his doctorate in exercise physiology, and four years of coaching experience. He is the author of various publications, including articles in the USTCA Quarterly, The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, and the Athletic Journal.

Previously, Ranson served as an assistant at Miami (Ohio) University (1983-86), University of Tennessee (1976-80), and Central Michigan University (1973-76).

An active member of the board of directors of the Maine USATF, Ranson served as meet director when UMaine hosted the prestigious USA National Masters Track & Field Championships in the summer of 1999 and in 2002. He will once again serve as meet director in the summer of 2007.