In trying to re-establish the University of Maine men’s basketball team as a consistent winner, head coach Bob Walsh knows the program needs support from the university, the community and fans.
Toward that end, the Black Bears’ boss continues to take steps designed to engage fans and help them understand what’s going on both on and off the court.
Walsh is a communicator, and whether it’s talking with people on campus, at the Cross Insurance Center or around the state, he is eager to share genuine dialogue with potential supporters.
“We want to run a program that our fans feel like it’s theirs and they can be a part of it because their support is a big part of our foundation,” Walsh said Friday as UMaine prepared for Saturday’s 2 p.m. America East game against Binghamton in Bangor.
The desire of UMaine men’s basketball and the athletic department to build its student fan base was in evidence during the team’s Jan. 18 home game against New Hampshire in Bangor.
With the aid of UMaine’s athletic marketing staff and a new student group called Black Bear United (@blackbearunited), a vocal gathering of students attended the game and sat in a designated student section.
“We had a great student turnout,” Walsh said. “I think we had over 400 students.”
To help attract that demographic, the UMaine men’s basketball program offered up a significant prize to the winner of a half-court shot contest. The first student to hit the shot would be awarded free textbooks for the semester, a reward worth several hundred dollars.
One by one, students launched shots during timeouts as the game progressed, but none connected. Finally, after the conclusion of the contest, students lined up at the midcourt stripe and began firing away.
It took some time, but Jonathan Deschaine finally hit the shot, meaning his books are free this semester. Walsh said the men’s basketball program will provide the funds.
Walsh said his players also have played a role in promoting themselves.
“There seems to be a little bit of a buzz on campus, and we’re trying to help keep that connection and grow that student section so that it’s consistent for every game,” he said.
In reaching out to a larger potential fan base, Walsh continues to be active on the Internet. He uses Twitter and other social media sites and writes his own blog at coachbobwalsh.com, where he shares a variety of stories and observations about not only basketball and coaching but leadership and other core principles that can be applied to many different facets of life.
Last Sunday, as the Black Bears made the long bus trip from Orono to Stony Brook, New York, for Monday’s storm-delayed game against the Seawolves, Walsh held a Q-and-A session on Twitter.
“We believe in what we do and how we operate, so letting people get a little on the inside and see what we do every day, we feel like we’ll engage the fans and the community,” Walsh said.
During the course of what he estimated was 90 minutes, Walsh fielded nearly 40 questions from fans, coaches and former players about various subjects.
There were inquiries about game substitutions, game planning, Walsh’s taste in music, player development, the nation’s top point guards, NBA thoughts, favorite restaurants, recruiting and much more.
Walsh answered most within Twitter’s 140-character limit (some took two tweets), interjecting a considerable amount of humor when appropriate.
“It was kind of an interesting and cool balance of all sorts of different stuff,” Walsh said.
He revealed details about his musical tastes, which includes old-school hip-hop artists such as Jadakiss, Eric B. & Rakim, and Tupac. His favorite A Tribe Called Quest album is “People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm.”
Walsh also shared an exchange with a former Providence College player, Donnie McGrath, who plays professionally in Spain.
“That’s part of the connection you make with the Internet. You can connect with people all over the world, so that was pretty cool,” Walsh said.
Walsh is excited about continuing his personal outreach, the aim of which is to help fans gain a better understanding of the approach the coaching staff and the team is taking in its quest to improve.
“We want to run a transparent program,” Walsh said.
In the meantime, the Black Bears will try to generate interest among fans by winning more games and playing its fast-paced, high-scoring style of basketball.