Central Maine Community College has hired new men’s soccer, softball and golf coaches with deep ties to the school and the Auburn-Lewiston area.

Dalton Wing is the new Central Maine Community College men’s soccer coach. He played for the Mustangs from 2017-19. CMCC Athletics photo

Dalton Wing, who played for the Mustangs’ men’s soccer team from 2017-19, takes over as the team’s head coach. He replaces Kiaran McCormack, who left CMCC after two years to become the Thomas College club team head coach and an assistant for the school’s men’s soccer team.

Wing, a Lewiston High School graduate, didn’t expect to be a college head coach two years into his career.

“Um, you know, not this soon into it,” Wing said. “My plan was to try to get into, you know, maybe some of the lower levels to start, and then make my way up, especially where I’m still new to my career. I never thought I would have the opportunity that I have now.”

Another Lewiston graduate, Megan Larochelle, is the new softball coach after Bruce Robertson stepped down. Larochelle was a softball standout for the Mustangs from 2018-20.

Wing and Larochelle were assistant coaches for their programs in 2023-24.

CMCC athletic director Dave Gonyea said he enjoys giving opportunities to young people entering the coaching profession.

“I like hiring young coaches,” Gonyea said. “I like to give people a chance. A long time ago, somebody gave me a chance, and I appreciate people that are in our system. I appreciate people who have paid the dues by being assistant coaches here and … I have an obligation to look at them heavily when looking for a new head coach.”

Larochelle, known as Megan Theriault during her playing days, spent two seasons as a softball assistant coach and didn’t hesitate to apply when the head coach position opened up.

“Yeah, well, Bruce had messaged me and the other assistant coaches, kind of like telling us that he’s stepping down and whatnot,” Larochelle said. “So, I kind of put it in Bruce’s ear at one point. I was like, ‘Hey, if you ever step down, like, let me know, give me a heads-up, and I’m going to reach out to Dave.’ So that’s kind of what I did. I texted him right away, and I was like, ‘Hey, I know you probably have to post this, but I would love to take this over. I love this program.'”

Marc Gosselin is the new coach of the golf program, taking over for Shaun McKinnon. Gosselin spent two seasons leading Thomas College’s golf team. He also graduated from Lewiston High School, where he was a member of the team’s 1995 boys hockey state championship team. He is currently the executive director for Sports Tourism and Community Partnerships for the city of Auburn

Gosselin also has a long history with CMCC, working as a public address announcer, helping coach the hockey team, and working in residence life, admissions, and the development office. He’s also been an adjunct instructor in the business department since 2003.

The golf team made its return to the school two seasons ago, and Gonyea said Gosselin is ready to continue the program’s growth.

Marc Gosselin

“We had a great coach last year, Shaun McKinnon, who really took it to another level,” Gonyea said. “And I think that they’re on the verge now with Marc’s leadership of doing some really nice things.”

Gonyea said the players will get a team bag and outfits and play in more matches this season.

GROWING PROGRAMS

The men’s soccer and softball programs have grown since Wing and Larochelle were standouts on the field.

“You know, when I started at CM, it was, you know, my first year, we were still playing on the grass field,” Wing said.

The Mustangs missed the Yankee Small Collegiate Conference tournament Wing’s first season. They made it the next year, but fell in the first round. His final season, CMCC reached the conference championship game.

The Mustangs have since reached the United States Collegiate Athletic Association’s Division II men’s soccer national tournament in 2021, 2022, and 2023.

“It just goes to show that this program and all the programs at CM are continuing to excel at a level that … you know, it’s going to make us competitive for years to come,” Wing, who is a Lewiston police officer, said.

Larochelle said that Robertson’s recruiting efforts yielded more softball-focused players the past few years than the Mustangs had during her playing days.

“When I first started, I was honestly the only, like, true softball player on the team,” she said. “It was a team made up of, like, soccer players and basketball players. So to even see it just grow from me as just one softball player with a bunch of girls that played other sports at that school that would offer to play to him consistently getting recruits and people wanting to come to the school to play softball, has just been huge to see the growth of the program.”

Larochelle, a kindergarten teacher in Lewiston, hopes to quickly rebuild after the Mustangs went 8-22 during the 2023-24 season, which included several games being called off because their opponents couldn’t field a team. The previous two seasons, CMCC played in the USCCA Small College World Series.

VOLLEYBALL COACH NEEDED

CMCC does have one head coaching vacancy remaining with volleyball. Kyle Chapman, who coached the team since 2021, was arrested in April on possession of sexually explicit material.

Gonyea said there has been interest in the position.

“Well, we have had a few folks, but I am trying to find the exact right person,” Gonyea said.