March 29, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

LaPlante seals deal as Auburn assistant> Maine loses Senegalese 7-footers with coach

ORONO – Mike LaPlante officially severed ties with the University of Maine men’s basketball program Thursday when he was named an assistant coach at Auburn University in Alabama.

In doing so, he also nullified any chance that Senegalese 7-footers Mamadou N’diaye and Ndongo N’diaye might wear Black Bear uniforms next season.

The 29-year-old LaPlante, who spent the last five seasons as an assistant under former Black Bears coach Rudy Keeling, joins head coach Cliff Ellis at the Southeastern Conference program. LaPlante was a finalist for the UMaine post this summer, but withdrew from the search at the last minute.

The 1984 UMaine graduate is expected to earn approximately $65,000 at Auburn, where he will handle recruiting duties. LaPlante could not be reached for comment Thursday.

“Mike LaPlante is young and innovative and has great international ties… ,” Ellis said, referring to LaPlante’s link to the Senegalese national team.

“…. he will bring us some diversity with our staff in that we are going to try to maintain our focus in the South, but it will broaden our scope somewhat and will take Auburn to an even more national level in recruiting.”

The N’diayes, who are considered to have pro potential, will not attend UMaine. Citing personal loyalty to LaPlante and not to the university, they have told their respective prep school coaches they will pursue their education, and basketball careers, elsewhere.

UMaine athletic director Suzanne Tyler said again Thursday the university will hold the N’diayes to their National Letters of Intent, which bind them to the program for one season. David Godin, who coached Ndongo N’diaye at Suffield Academy in Connecticut, said Tyler has not informed him of her decision.

Godin said Ndongo N’diaye won’t make definite plans for the future until he is informed of UMaine’s decision on the release.

“Things are totally up in the air at this point,” said Godin, who conceded another year of prep school is not an option for Ndongo. “I’m just hoping they make some decisions soon, so Ndongo can get on with things.”

Max Good, who coached Mamadou N’diaye at Maine Central Institute, said they also will wait to hear from UMaine about a possible release before making plans.

If UMaine does not release the N’diayes, the players have limited options. If they do not attend any institution – or attend a junior college or university that does not participate in the NLI program – during 1996-97, the letters are null and void.

If they enroll at an NLI-affiliated school this fall, the N’diayes would be forced to sit out two full seasons before competing, and would forfeit two years of eligibility.

New UMaine head coach John Giannini admitted he is sorry to see LaPlante and the N’diayes go. However, he said he has done everything in his power to keep them in Orono.

“I’ve been working my tail off to keep them from moving,” Giannini said. “I think we’ve developed a nice relationship over a short period of time, but they’ve made their decision.”

Rather than dwell on the departures, Giannini prefers to look ahead with optimism.

“We have to get our focus on the people who want to be here,” Giannini said. “… I can’t wait to move forward with these players, who I think are a possible championship team. The bottom line is, Maine has an exciting team.”

Giannini does have one remaining link to the UMaine program in assistant coach Ed Jones, who was the third assistant under Rudy Keeling last season. Jones, who played at UMaine from 1990-94, will be retained on the staff to provide continuity.

“From Day 1, I knew that I wanted Ed Jones to be part of the coaching staff,” Giannini said. “He is a great role model and great spokesman. Combine that with character and his work ethic, and he presents many positive characteristics.”

Giannini, who has been scouring the country looking for candidates, said he hopes to work quickly to fill the two assistant coaching vacancies on his staff.


Have feedback? Want to know more? Send us ideas for follow-up stories.

comments for this post are closed

You may also like