Eric Werntgen (UMFK '99, Westbrook '97)
werntgen@maine.edu
Head Coach (Fifth season)

Coach Eric Werntgen came to UMFK in the fall of 1997 after graduating from the University of New England (formally Westbrook College) with a bachelor's degree in American studies. Coach Werntgen started his college coaching career as an Assistant with the Men's program at UMFK for two years while he earned his elementary education teaching certificate.

Werntgen played for Coach Jim Graffam at Westbrook College where he was part of one of the best programs in the history of Maine small college basketball. During the Wildcats six-year existence, they won 134 games and made two trips to the NAIA Division II National Tournament. Following Werntgen's junior year in 1996, Westbrook College merged with the University of New England and the Wildcat program was broken up. Werntgen was named captain of the 1996-97 UNE Wildcats and although he had his best year individually, UNE struggled to a 13-13 rank. The merger was difficult for everyone involved in the Westbrook family as many individuals were forced to make sacrifices.

Coach Werntgen has been able to draw the positives from the experience he had in his senior year and his time spent as an assistant coach and women’s head coach and apply them to his current coaching duties. The Women's Soccer team made back-to-back strong showings in the conference quarterfinals and reached the finals in fall of 2003 and the Women's Basketball team which Coach Werntgen recruited and built won the Sunrise Conference championship in March of 2004 and 2006 under the direction of current Head Coach Lucas Levesque. Werntgen made the jump back to the Men's Basketball Program in Mid-October of 2003 taking over for his mentor, Coach Jim Graffam and his teams have made effective strides. Over the last four seasons, the Bengals have been very competitive within the Sunrise Conference reaching the semi-finals in Werntgen’s first three seasons and the finals in the 2006-07 season where they lost to Fisher College.

Coach Werntgen is from Essex, Vermont. He is the son of Joyce and Will Werntgen and the youngest of three boys. Neal, 33, works in Tempe, Arizona as a graphic designer for Mindspace and Kurt, 35, works for Verizon in Atlanta, Georgia as a Marketing Consultant. Coach Werntgen makes annual trips to Vermont in the summer where he helps run Spartan Hoop Camp in Winooski with childhood and lifetime friend Denis Barcomb, who is the Boy's Middle School Basketball Coach and Athletic Director. Although Werntgen has many Vermont connections, he is now proud to call Fort Kent, Maine home. Coach Werntgen, his wife Robin and daughter Lily reside in Fort Kent.

Derrick Cooper (UMFK '08)           

derrick.cooper@maine.edu

Assistant Coach (1st season)

Assistant Coach Derrick Cooper joins the men's program for his first season of college coaching following a sparkling two sport career at UMFK.  Derrick starred in both soccer and basketball at UMFK from 2002 – 2004.  He was a three time member of the men’s soccer team and was paramount in establishing the winning program that exists today.  Derrick was a defensive starter on three Sunrise Conference Championship teams and made Second Team All SC in 2003 and First Team All SC in 2004.  He was also named SC Defensive Player of the Year in 2004 and was a team captain.  “Coop” played basketball his final two years at UMFK and developed into one of the finest point guards the University has ever seen.  He was team captain in 2004-05 and led the Bengals in assists and steals in his senior season. 

Derrick grew up in Madawaska, Maine where he was a tri-sport star and team captain in varsity soccer, basketball and baseball.  He was a All Maine East Soccer team member and he played his basketball under legendary Coach Matt Rossignol.  Derrick is currently completing his Elementary Education degree and will be student teaching this spring.  The Bengal Family is extremely honored and great full to have Coach Cooper in the program.

Chad Gervais (UMFK '06)                    

gervaischad@yahoo.com

Assistant Coach (1st season)

Assistant Coach Chad Gervais joins the men's program this season following a four year career as a swingman for the Bengals. Gervais played for three different coaches at UMFK including Coach Werntgen in his final two seasons (2003-04 and 2004-05).  He was a member of one of the finest teams in school history his freshmen year (2001-02) when the Bengals went 24-7 as an NAIA Independent school.  Gervais scored a career best 36 points vs. Division I CIS UCCB (Canada).  A very versatile player Gervais played all three guard spots and ocassionaly saw time as a power forward.

Chad grew up in St. Agatha, Maine and was a four year starter for Coach Scott Richardson's Wisdom Pioneers.  Gervais is the male all time leader scorer at Wisdom and his teams made back to back trips to the Eastern Maine tournament in his final two seasons.  He currently resides in beautiful Fort Kent.  The Bengal Basketball Family is honored to welcome Coach Gervais into the program and will draw from his experiences here as a player and student-athlete.