CASTINE--Maine Maritime Academy – one of the United States' foremost maritime colleges offering degrees in engineering, science, management and transportation – has named William "Bill" Mottola as the Director of Athletics following a search this fall. In addition, the Academy announced that offensive coordinator Nick Sheehan has been selected as the 13th head coach of Mariners Football.

The announcements were made by Maine Maritime Interim President Craig Johnson. "During our search, one candidate rose to the top for Director of Athletics. Bill's impressive career covering many roles in collegiate and high school athletics coupled with his deep love for and understanding of our Maine community make him the perfect choice for this role. We are pleased for him to continue the good work that had occurred in our athletic programs. Coach Nick Sheehan has earned the respect of our players and fellow coaches, and together with the current staff will usher Mariners Football into their first varsity season next fall. We couldn't be more pleased with these selections."
 
A veteran coach in all three NCAA divisions, Mottola joined the Mariners Athletics Department in October as the interim head football coach as the program returned to varsity status and played three official NCAA games this fall. With nearly 25 years of experience as a collegiate football coach after starting his career at Maine Maritime in 1990 when he worked with the quarterbacks and wide receivers, Mottola now turns his attention from the gridiron to the betterment of MMA Athletics as a whole.
 
"I look forward to leading Maine Maritime Athletics into the future. Providing all Mariner student-athletes with outstanding and balanced academic and athletic experiences will be a priority," Mottola stated. "I am excited to work alongside Associate Director of Athletics Tricia Carver in continuing our department's dedication to supporting our coaches to become the best teachers, leaders, and mentors they can be.
 
"The Division III athletic model is truly unique at Maine Maritime Academy as we prepare our young people through sport and a rigorous academic regimen to be citizens of the world and young professionals. Our uniqueness is a powerful recruiting tool that I plan on the athletic department rallying around as we continue to attract the best and brightest student-athletes who want to compete for championships."
 
Mottola is poised to lead and continue to build a program that has experienced many accomplishments over the years in the arena of competition, in the classroom, and in the community. Mariner athletes have completed 16 consecutive semesters with term and cumulative grade point averages better than 3.0. Maine Maritime has also produced 22 North Atlantic Conference Senior Scholar-Athletes of the Year since the award's inception in 2015. Mariner teams have won 11 conference titles accompanied by 11 NCAA championship appearances in four sports over the last three academic years. He will work through a transition period with outgoing Athletic Director Steve Peed until mid-January.
 
Sheehan brings 12 years of college coaching experience to his first head coaching role. Most recently, he had oversight of the Mariners' offense. Since the return of the MMA program in 2023, he has assisted in all phases of operations including recruiting, retention, and practice and game planning. He was responsible for coaching and developing the quarterbacks and wide receivers.
 
"I am incredibly honored and excited to be named the head football coach at Maine Maritime Academy. This is a program with a rich history, and I am eager to continue building on that tradition," Sheehan added. "I want to express my deep gratitude to the administration, and everyone involved in the process for believing in me and giving me this opportunity."
 
Sheehan looks forward to implementing his vision for future Mariner football squads. "Maine Maritime is a special place, with student-athletes who embody hard work, resilience, and a commitment to excellence-values that are at the core of what we will build as a football program. My goal is to create an environment where our players grow both as athletes and as individuals, while instilling discipline, character, and a strong sense of teamwork," he said. "We're going to work tirelessly to compete at the highest level, both on the field and in the classroom, and represent Maine Maritime Academy with pride and integrity. I am excited to get started and to see what we can accomplish together."
 
Maine Maritime Football has won 12 conference/division championships, made five Eastern College Athletic Conference and NCAA Division III tournament appearances, produced 27 All-Americans and earned 57 all-conference citations.

(TRANSACTION: Maine Maritime Academy – Bill Mottola elevated from interim football coach to director of athletics, and Nick Sheehan named head football coach.)