Amy Vachon begins her second year as an assistant coach with the University of Maine staff. Vachon will continue to work closely with the Black Bear guards as well as breaking down video and developing scouting reports. Following the 2011-12 season, Vachon was also promoted to Recruiting Coordinator.

University of Maine women’s basketball coach Richard Barron named Amy Vachon as an assistant coach on May 16, 2011. Vachon, a 2000 graduate of the University of Maine, had a fantastic four-year career as a student-athlete with the Black Bears.

“I am very excited to have Amy Vachon join our staff,” said Barron. “Amy has been a great success at everything she has taken on in her life. Amy has coaching in her DNA!  She has proven to be a strong coach and communicator, winning the Maine Class A state championship as McAuley’s coach this past season. Her understanding of and networking with Maine girls basketball will be a tremendous asset and her experience on great teams and as Maine’s all-time assist leader will help us as we communicate to recruits the potential of this program. I couldn’t be more pleased that she has accepted the offer!”

“I am thrilled to be returning to the University of Maine as an assistant basketball coach for the women’s basketball team,” said Vachon. “UMaine holds a very special place in my heart and the opportunity to return to the basketball program is a dream come true. I am very excited to start working with Coach Barron. He brings such enthusiasm and knowledge to Maine and I know he is the right coach to lead the women’s basketball program. I am looking forward to not only working with the current team, but also players throughout the State of Maine as we rebuild the great UMAINE women’s basketball program.”

A two-time captain, Vachon led the Black Bears to four-straight NCAA Tournament appearances and was a member of the squad that knocked off Stanford in the first round of the 1999 NCAA Tournament. Maine compiled a four-year record of 87-35 with Vachon on the team, including an impressive record of 61-11 in conference play. She was part of a Maine team that won back-to-back America East Championships in 1996–97 and 1997–98.

Vachon holds Maine records for the most assists in a season (234). She also holds the Maine and America East record for assists in a career with 759. She currently ranks 22nd all-time in NCAA history in career assists. Vachon earned a spot on the America East All-Tournament Team in 1999.

Prior to joining the University of Maine women’s basketball staff, Vachon was the head coach at Catherine McAuley High School, located in Portland, Maine. Vachon coached McAuley to the 2011 Maine Class A State Championship.

Vachon was an assistant at Greely High School in 2008 and 2009, where she helped the Rangers reach the Western Maine Final. Before her time at Greely, Vachon assisted at Cony high school after spending one year as a head coach at Waterville high school.

Vachon is the daughter of long-time Cony high school head coach Paul Vachon. While in high school, Vachon played on two-state championships teams and was a four-year All-State Basketball Selection and a two-time Gatorade Player of the Year. Vachon was honored as Miss Maine Basketball and the High School Athlete of the Year in 1996.

Vachon knows the demands of a Division I student-athletes, as she also excelled in the classroom. She graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2000 with a degree in elementary education. In 2002, she earned her Master’s of Education from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in school counseling. While an undergraduate, she was named: All-Maine Women Honor Society, Dean’s List, America East All-Conference Academic Honor Roll, Maine Scholar-Athlete Award winner and also served on the Student-Athlete Advisory Board.