By: University of Southern Maine Athletics

GORHAM, Maine – Serving as the head coach of the University of Southern Maine Huskies' successful women's cross country, indoor and outdoor track & field teams since 2019, Husky head coach Rob Whitten has been elevated to head coach of both the men's and women's cross country and track & field programs.
 
Following the resignation of men's head coach David Clyburn this summer, long-time Director of Athletics Al Bean saw an opportunity for a new model for both programs to ensure continued success at the conference, regional and national levels.
 
"Since Rob's arrival in Gorham, he has continued and elevated the success of our women's programs, and has worked side-by-side in a collaborative effort with the men's teams and student-athletes during his tenure.  After careful consideration, and a discussion with appropriate University leadership, Rob's transition to head coach of both the men's and women's programs will ensure a consistent, collaborative and equitable approach for the success of Huskies' Athletics and the student-athletes these programs serve.  With the restructuring of the position, a full-time assistant coach will be added to the staff."
 
Since joining the Huskies' coaching staff in 2019, Whitten has coached NCAA Division III National Champion (javelin) and All-American (pole vault, javelin) Sophia Slovenski, and All-American Adela Kalilwa (jumps). During the 2021-2022 indoor and outdoor seasons, two of his student-athletes freshman Jaigan Boudreau (Dayton, Maine/Thornton Academy) and sophomore Olivia Jalbert (Auburn, Maine/Edward Little) each have won major post-season honors from the Little East Conference.  Jalbert who was named the 2022 Little East Conference Field Athlete of the Year following the outdoor track & field season, also had a tremendous indoor season, qualifying for the NCAA Division III National Championship in her first official indoor season setting the school record in the high jump (1.67 meters). 
 
"I'm extremely excited for this opportunity to fully unite the Southern Maine men's and women's track and field and cross country programs. This is something the men's staffs and I have been working toward over the last three years and now was the right time to take the next step," said Whitten on his appointment. "I'm thankful to Al and the University leadership for the confidence they have in me to lead this new era of USM track and field. I think this will be a great opportunity to efficiently maximize our time and resources in one direction, and it will benefit the student-athlete experience for all of the men and women in the program."
 
Whitten has coached 31 individual Little East Conference champions, six NCAA qualifiers, four All-Americans and one national champion in his three seasons at Southern Maine. He and his staff have been named the LEC Coaching Staff of the Year for the 2020 and 2022 indoor seasons and the 2021 and 2022 outdoor seasons. 

Prior to his arrival at University of Southern Maine, Whitten spent 11 seasons as an assistant coach with the University of Rhode Island men's track and field program focusing on the jumpers and multi-event athletes.  In his time at URI, Whitten has helped develop 49 Atlantic-10 champions, 102 All-New England finishes, 17 New England champions, and 35 All-East/All-IC4A selections. In 2018, Whitten was chosen by his peers as the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Men's Assistant Coach of the Year for the Northeast Region.
Prior to URI, Whitten spent two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Hartford where he mentored two America East champions. He also served as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, the University of New Hampshire, and was part of the Wildcats 2006 America East Outdoor Track and Field Coaching Staff of the Year.

As an undergraduate at UNH, Whitten was a five-time all-conference and two-time All-New England performer in the pole vault and multi-events. Whitten completed his bachelor's degree in business administration in 2004, and received his master's in kinesiology from UNH in 2006.

Originally from Farmington, Maine, Whitten was a New England high school champion in the pole vault and is the former state of Maine indoor and outdoor pole vault record holder. He won three Class A state titles while competing for Mount Blue High School.
-cac-