Hall of Fame
Richard "Doc" Costello was appointed the first commissioner of the Little East Conference in 1986, serving as the executive director for the newly formed Division III men's and women's basketball conference.
Under his four-year tenure, the Little East Conference expanded its sponsorship to seven sports with the addition of men's and women's cross country (1988), men's soccer (1989), men's tennis (1989), and women's soccer (1990). Costello was also instrumental in helping the Little East Conference earn an automatic berth into the men's and women's national tournament field in 1989, providing the conference champion the opportunity to compete for a Division III championship.
Doc enjoyed a five-decade long relationship with the University of Southern Maine as an assistant coach, head coach, and athletic director. Under his guidance, the Huskies became an active member of the NCAA and Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) in 1985.
A tremendous motivator, Costello retired from basketball with the distinction of being the only coach in NCAA history to win at least 200 games on both the men's and women's side of the court. Among his numerous awards, he has been enshrined in the NAIA Hall of Fame, the USM Hall of Fame, and the Maine Sports Hall of Fame.