Terrapin men’s basketball assistant coach Mike Lonergan was named the new head coach of the University of Vermont, the university announced Saturday. He will remain with the Terps through the remainder of this season.
Lonergan replaces retiring Vermont coach Tom Brennan.
“I am very excited about becoming the next head coach at Vermont. Coach [Gary] Williams has encouraged me to pursue this position throughout the process. I will always be grateful to him for giving me this wonderful opportunity at Maryland,” Lonergan said in a statement. “I wouldn’t have received this position without Coach hiring me at Maryland.”
Lonergan becomes the third Terp assistant to leave the program in the past year. Longtime assistant Jimmy Patsos left after last season to take the head coaching position at nearby Loyola. Matt Kovarik also left after last season to return to law school.
Lonergan is in his first season with the Terps.
“I like guys getting head coaching jobs,” Williams said. “I was an assistant for seven years, high school coach for three and a graduate assistant here for one. There comes a point where you wonder if you’ll ever get the chance. So whenever anybody does, I think it’s great.”
Prior to joining Williams’ staff, Lonergan spent 12 seasons as the head coach at Division III Catholic University, winning the Division III national championship in 2001.
“He’s a proven coach, but sometimes it’s tough when you’re Div. II or Div. III to get a head coaching job at the Div. 1 level. So hopefully coming here helped him get a little bit more exposure,” Williams said. “I think they’re getting a very good basketball coach at Vermont.”
