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Probably there’s not a basketball fan in the state of Maine over 21 who doesn’t know about Cindy Blodgett, the greatest pure shooter in Maine basketball history. Between 1994 and 1998, this lightly built and almost painfully shy point guard for the University of Maine women’s basketball team established records that may not be equaled in her lifetime. And in the process of setting many records, the young lady from Clinton, Maine, put Maine women’s basketball into the national spotlight.
Her legend wasn’t built only at the University of Maine, however. From the time she was a middle schooler, it was obvious that Cindy Blodgett was special in the game of basketball. Blodgett lead her Lawrence High School team to four consecutive state championships—and then provided the spark for four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances by her UMaine women’s team. And for those four college basketball seasons, come snow, sleet, or icy roads, Alfond Arena in Orono was packed to the rafters for almost every home game that Cindy Blodgett played. Only the Maine men’s hockey team has ever matched such a fan base.
Following graduation, Blodgett went to the professional ranks of women’s basketball. She played very little during her time in the pros. But she contributed in unheralded roles to the two teams she played for, the Cleveland Rockers and the Sacramento Monarchs.
Blodgett always had coaching in mind for her post-playing career, and twice applied for the head coaching position at her alma mater in Orono. The first time she was not considered for her lack of head coaching experience, but after a few years of steady decline in the women’s program under two different coaches, her second effort to get the job was successful. Now “Cindy” is back at UMaine with the formidable task of rebuilding the women’s basketball program. And she has no illusions that it will be an easy task. But she didn’t get to be one of the most respected athletes in Maine history by taking the easy path.
She spoke to Bangor Metro from her office in Memorial Gym on the UMaine campus.
Do you see your return to UMaine as a personal “homecoming” or more as the next phase of your career?
Kind of both. It does feel like “coming home,” but as far as the job part of it is concerned, I think it’s a natural progression. I always felt that I would coach, but not necessarily here. I certainly thought about it, because Maine is a place I would be most passionate about coaching. It just happened that the opportunity came up a little sooner than I, or most people, thought it would.
You had some very strong competition for the job. Do you think that part of the reason you were chosen was a desire by the university to capitalize on your tremendous popularity in Maine and to resurrect the “glory days” of your four years as a player here?
When I came here for the interview, in no way did I feel that I had the job. I did know that I was the best person for the job—not just because of my playing experience but also my life experience. Basketball has been my life for 25 years, but don’t forget, I already had a great job as top assistant and recruiting coordinator at Brown University, so I certainly wasn’t “desperate” for this job by any means.
Because you are Cindy Blodgett and have such a huge base of fans here in Maine, are you concerned that expectations of you might be unreasonably high in the next couple of years?
Well, there are always people who will be pessimistic. I’m used to it. When I was in middle school, they said I was too small to play in high school. When I played in high school, I heard that I was too small to play at the college level. Then, in college, people said I wasn’t strong enough to go to the next level. But there’s no expectation anyone can put on me that I haven’t already put on myself. I expect to be successful and I frankly don’t have time to entertain these doubters from outside. I’m accountable to my players, and that’s it!
The game has become even more physical than it was when you were playing here. How will this affect your recruiting of players?
When I go out to recruit, I look for players who know how to play, and understand the game. Size and athleticism is a factor, of course, but I’m more interested in finding basketball players than just strong athletes. Being tall and athletic is no guarantee that you can play basketball!
Do you expect to find the kind of players you need here in Maine, or do you think you’ll be recruiting a lot of players from out of state?
I want to win, and whether we win with mostly Maine players or not isn’t my main concern. But I also believe that we must keep our best Maine players in Maine, and that means we must have a facility that Maine players will be attracted to. We’re competing with every other conference in our recruiting and in order to compete successfully we need a new facility. It’s hard to bring a potential recruit to Alfond Arena with the ice down and ask them to “imagine” the basketball court being there! The university is working on plans for a new facility right now and it’s extremely important that we have it. I also have to say that the work ethic of Maine players is very appealing to me and that’s just one more reason I want to keep our best players here!
When you were in the WNBA you didn’t get much playing time. Did you use some of the time you spent on the bench studying different coaching techniques?
Yeah, but I also was responsible for helping to get the starting players ready for the next game. I showed up for every practice and worked my tail off doing what I was supposed to be doing, and I knew I made an impact even though I wasn’t playing much. And I have to say that, having been a starter in high school and college, I was very appreciative of the opportunity to play a secondary role and to be OK with myself about that. I also think that experience helps me to be more sensitive to my own players—the ones who won’t be playing much—because I can identify with them based on my own experience.
What’s your honest assessment of your team and the schedule you’ll be playing this year?
It’s clear that we’re in the process of building a foundation. Without a foundation you don’t have anything! We’re teaching the players how to train, how to focus, how to get into condition, and especially how to compete. Life is a competition, after all! So, I’m not thinking so much about wins and losses as I am about us getting better every practice and every game and especially helping these young women to believe in themselves.
When you play your first home game, and you’re introduced as “Coach” Blodgett, the reaction from the crowd is certain to be overwhelming. How are you preparing yourself for that moment?
I have thought about it and it’s sort of a surreal feeling. I never thought I would be back here in that sort of situation. The main thing I want people to know is that this job isn’t just a “stepping stone” for me. I’m here because I want to be here. I’m invested in these players, and this program, and I expect the fans, the players, and the university to be invested in it as well.
While you were away from Maine, in the WNBA, playing overseas, and working at other jobs, what did you miss most about your home state?
Pace. I say that warmly, because I know that life in Maine is more relaxed, and people here take time to be neighborly with each other. For a “type A” person such as I am, that’s a very good thing, and of course it’s great to know that my family is here. So many people have told me they’re glad that I’ve come back, and I’m really glad to be back.
Her legend wasn’t built only at the University of Maine, however. From the time she was a middle schooler, it was obvious that Cindy Blodgett was special in the game of basketball. Blodgett lead her Lawrence High School team to four consecutive state championships—and then provided the spark for four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances by her UMaine women’s team. And for those four college basketball seasons, come snow, sleet, or icy roads, Alfond Arena in Orono was packed to the rafters for almost every home game that Cindy Blodgett played. Only the Maine men’s hockey team has ever matched such a fan base.
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Following graduation, Blodgett went to the professional ranks of women’s basketball. She played very little during her time in the pros. But she contributed in unheralded roles to the two teams she played for, the Cleveland Rockers and the Sacramento Monarchs.
Blodgett always had coaching in mind for her post-playing career, and twice applied for the head coaching position at her alma mater in Orono. The first time she was not considered for her lack of head coaching experience, but after a few years of steady decline in the women’s program under two different coaches, her second effort to get the job was successful. Now “Cindy” is back at UMaine with the formidable task of rebuilding the women’s basketball program. And she has no illusions that it will be an easy task. But she didn’t get to be one of the most respected athletes in Maine history by taking the easy path.
She spoke to Bangor Metro from her office in Memorial Gym on the UMaine campus.
Do you see your return to UMaine as a personal “homecoming” or more as the next phase of your career?
Kind of both. It does feel like “coming home,” but as far as the job part of it is concerned, I think it’s a natural progression. I always felt that I would coach, but not necessarily here. I certainly thought about it, because Maine is a place I would be most passionate about coaching. It just happened that the opportunity came up a little sooner than I, or most people, thought it would.
You had some very strong competition for the job. Do you think that part of the reason you were chosen was a desire by the university to capitalize on your tremendous popularity in Maine and to resurrect the “glory days” of your four years as a player here?
When I came here for the interview, in no way did I feel that I had the job. I did know that I was the best person for the job—not just because of my playing experience but also my life experience. Basketball has been my life for 25 years, but don’t forget, I already had a great job as top assistant and recruiting coordinator at Brown University, so I certainly wasn’t “desperate” for this job by any means.
Because you are Cindy Blodgett and have such a huge base of fans here in Maine, are you concerned that expectations of you might be unreasonably high in the next couple of years?
Well, there are always people who will be pessimistic. I’m used to it. When I was in middle school, they said I was too small to play in high school. When I played in high school, I heard that I was too small to play at the college level. Then, in college, people said I wasn’t strong enough to go to the next level. But there’s no expectation anyone can put on me that I haven’t already put on myself. I expect to be successful and I frankly don’t have time to entertain these doubters from outside. I’m accountable to my players, and that’s it!
The game has become even more physical than it was when you were playing here. How will this affect your recruiting of players?
When I go out to recruit, I look for players who know how to play, and understand the game. Size and athleticism is a factor, of course, but I’m more interested in finding basketball players than just strong athletes. Being tall and athletic is no guarantee that you can play basketball!
Do you expect to find the kind of players you need here in Maine, or do you think you’ll be recruiting a lot of players from out of state?
I want to win, and whether we win with mostly Maine players or not isn’t my main concern. But I also believe that we must keep our best Maine players in Maine, and that means we must have a facility that Maine players will be attracted to. We’re competing with every other conference in our recruiting and in order to compete successfully we need a new facility. It’s hard to bring a potential recruit to Alfond Arena with the ice down and ask them to “imagine” the basketball court being there! The university is working on plans for a new facility right now and it’s extremely important that we have it. I also have to say that the work ethic of Maine players is very appealing to me and that’s just one more reason I want to keep our best players here!
When you were in the WNBA you didn’t get much playing time. Did you use some of the time you spent on the bench studying different coaching techniques?
Yeah, but I also was responsible for helping to get the starting players ready for the next game. I showed up for every practice and worked my tail off doing what I was supposed to be doing, and I knew I made an impact even though I wasn’t playing much. And I have to say that, having been a starter in high school and college, I was very appreciative of the opportunity to play a secondary role and to be OK with myself about that. I also think that experience helps me to be more sensitive to my own players—the ones who won’t be playing much—because I can identify with them based on my own experience.
What’s your honest assessment of your team and the schedule you’ll be playing this year?
It’s clear that we’re in the process of building a foundation. Without a foundation you don’t have anything! We’re teaching the players how to train, how to focus, how to get into condition, and especially how to compete. Life is a competition, after all! So, I’m not thinking so much about wins and losses as I am about us getting better every practice and every game and especially helping these young women to believe in themselves.
When you play your first home game, and you’re introduced as “Coach” Blodgett, the reaction from the crowd is certain to be overwhelming. How are you preparing yourself for that moment?
I have thought about it and it’s sort of a surreal feeling. I never thought I would be back here in that sort of situation. The main thing I want people to know is that this job isn’t just a “stepping stone” for me. I’m here because I want to be here. I’m invested in these players, and this program, and I expect the fans, the players, and the university to be invested in it as well.
While you were away from Maine, in the WNBA, playing overseas, and working at other jobs, what did you miss most about your home state?
Pace. I say that warmly, because I know that life in Maine is more relaxed, and people here take time to be neighborly with each other. For a “type A” person such as I am, that’s a very good thing, and of course it’s great to know that my family is here. So many people have told me they’re glad that I’ve come back, and I’m really glad to be back.
