Maine Maritime Academy

Dr. Owen "OJ" Logue, a Maine native and Maine Running Hall of Fame inductee, was named Maine Maritime Academy's Head Men's and Women's Cross Country Coach in August 2021.

"I couldn't be more pleased to welcome OJ into our campus community," said Director of Athletics, Steve Peed. "He is an amazing individual and our athletes will certainly benefit from the opportunity to learn and grow under his mentorship. His endless spring of enthusiasm, positivity and joy will lend itself to a great experience for our athletes and I am absolutely certain that there is no more appropriate person for Maine Maritime Cross Country at this particular juncture."

Logue will take over the cross country program after Ryan King stepped down to transition the program to new leadership before his sudden passing last month. Veteran Assistant Coaches, Will "Juicebox" Martell and Bryan Wolf will return to help Logue guide the Mariners this fall.

"I am incredibly honored to have been selected as Maine Maritime's next Head Men's and Women's Cross Country Coach," said Logue. "I accept the challenge to continue the legacy left behind by Ryan King. I have high expectations for this team and can't wait to begin the season with the squad and coaching staff."

Logue, who holds an Doctorate in Higher Education Leadership from Vanderbilt University, is currently the Interim Executive Director of the Bar Harbor Food Pantry and the Long-Distance Running Coach for the USA Deaf Track and Field Team, which will compete in Brazil in May 2022. Previously he had served as the Executive Director of Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing/Governor Baxter School for the Deaf in Falmouth, Maine.

Logue, coached both cross country and indoor track at the University of Maine for seven years and outdoor track at Bangor High School for two years. Logue also served as a Deaf Olympian representing the United States in Track and Field in 1981 and 1985. In 1981 Logue was Maine's top finisher in the Boston Marathon with a time of 2:26. In 2012, he founded the Acadian Running Camp, was inducted into the Maine Running Hall of Fame in 2006 and the Deaf Long Distance Runner's Hall of Fame in 2012.

"I connected with Professor OJ Logue at the University of Maine when I was in my first year there 21 years ago," said Associate Athletic Director, Tricia Carver. "I appreciated the time spent in his class - always full of thoughtfulness, humor, and lively discussion. It was clear then, as it is now, that Coach Logue puts relationships and people first. He brings energy, enthusiasm, a competitive spirit, and a love for running and teams. I'm thrilled to welcome Coach Logue to our department."

As part of his 30-plus-year career in higher education as a teacher and administrator, Logue has held faculty appointments at the University of Maine, Smith College, and Providence College.

In 1977 Logue graduated from the University of Southern Maine with a Bachelors in Social Welfare. During his time at USM, Logue placed fourth at the NAIA Cross Country Regional Qualifying earning an invitation to the National Championship. Logue then went on to earn a Master's Degree in Special Education in 1981 from the University of Maine at Orono.

As a student-athlete at Orono High School, Logue served as the captain of his cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track teams, and was part of three State Championship track teams. In 1973 he took fourth place in the state two-mile championship, and in 1974 he was second in the state 1000-yard competition. In the 1974 State Meet he won the two-mile event at the Penobscot Valley Conference Championships and then took fourth in the event at the State Outdoor Championships.

Men's Cross Country: