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Click here to read Coach McDevitt's "Chalk Talk" feature
Mike McDevitt, the winningest coach in St. Joe's women's
basketball program history, returns to his alma mater after
coaching at Southern Maine from 2004 to 2009.
McDevitt began his career as a head coach at Saint Joseph's in
1988, when he guided the Lady Monks to a 21-9 record and berth in
the NAIA Tournament. In his first stint at St. Joe's, which spanned
16 seasons, McDevitt racked up a 326-117 record to go with a .736
winning percentage, the highest mark achieved in SJC Athletics
history. Along the way, his teams reached the 20-win plateau on
seven occasions, won seven conference titles and made seven
appearances in the NAIA national tournament. McDevitt also
collected Maine Athletic Conference Coach of the Year honors five
times (1988, 1990, 1991, 1994 and 1999) and coached four players
who received All-America accolades.
As an assistant at USM for five years, McDevitt helped lead the
Huskies to a 144-14 record, four trips to the NCAA "Sweet Sixteen"
and a pair of appearances in the Final Four. With McDevitt serving
as the interim head coach in 2009, Southern Maine posted a 22-7
record, won the Little East Conference Championship, and made an
NCAA DIII Tournament appearance.
Prior to his role as the head coach at St. Joe's, McDevitt served
as an assistant coach for the Monks' men's basketball program for
three seasons. He also had stints as the Monks head coach for golf
(1997-2004) and women's volleyball (1987-92).
As a student-athlete at St. Joe's, McDevitt played in 103 games as
a four-year starter for the Monks basketball team and scored 1,381
points (11th all-time at St. Joe's) with 674 rebounds (8th). He was
named All-Conference, All-State and All-District in both 1982 and
1983 and received Western Maine Athletic Conference Player of the
Year honors following the 1983 season. No stranger to success on
the hard court, McDevitt has been a part of 631 wins in 30 years as
a player, assistant, and head coach.
McDevitt, who earned a degree in Business Administration from Saint
Joseph's, resides in Cumberland, Maine with his wife Margaret, his
daughter Megan, and his sons Michael and Matthew.
Michele Higgins joins the women's basketball staff this year
after coaching JV basketball at Gorham High School. Prior to
last year, Higgins coached JV, assisted with the Varsity girls'
program, and directed the summer girls' basketball camp at Norfolk
Academy in Norfolk, Virginia while teaching elementary physical
education.
While in college, Higgins played under Curt Smyth, a former St.
Joseph's College assistant coach under Mike McDevitt.
Higgins, formerly Michele Plant, was a four-year starter and
three-year captain at the University of New England ('01).
She was an all-conference and all-state player, and helped lead her
team to a Commonwealth Coast Conference Championship her senior
year. Higgins is currently ranked 5th on the all-time scoring
list, 3rd in steals, and 3rd in three-pointers at UNE. She
was also an all-conference and all-state player on the softball
team. She graduated with a B.S. in Sport and Fitness
Management from UNE and an M.S. Ed. in Physical Education with a
specialization in Sport Management from Old Dominion
University.
Higgins attended Gorham High school and was a three-sport athlete.
She was inducted into the GHS Hall of Fame in 2007.
Currently, Higgins teaches Physical Education at Westbrook Middle
School and resides in Gorham.
Nik Ray joins the Monks coaching staff in 2009 and brings a wealth of playing experience to the table.
Ray played his high school basketball at Cony, where he was named as a team captain his senior year. He went on to play hoops at Thomas College for four years and was selected as a team tri-captain in his final season.
Ray earned a B.S. in Management and went on to attain a Masters in Business Administration from Thomas College in 2007.
Also an Assistant Director of Admissions at Saint Joseph's College, Ray currently resides in Windham, Maine.
