GORHAM, Maine –  Ed Harding has announced his departure as head coach of the University of Southern Maine Huskies' men's ice program.  The seventh coach in program history, Harding was named USM's head coach in April 2015 after taking over as interim head coach at the midway point of the 2014-2015 season. Harding played for the Huskies from 1985-1988, and was an assistant coach during the 1993-1996 seasons. He was inducted into the Husky Hall of Fame in 2014.  A national search for the Huskies' next head coach will begin immediately. 
 
"On behalf of the University of Southern Maine, and Huskies' Athletics, I would like to thank Ed Harding for his years of service to our student-athletes and the hockey program," said Director of Athletics Al Bean. 
 
During his tenure, Harding's student-athletes have achieved tremendous success in the classroom, the community and in competition.  At the conclusion of the 2022-23 season, 14 members of the Huskies' squad earned New England Hockey Conference All-Academic team honors, and three men's ice hockey players - graduate student Tyler Gardiner (Watertown, Mass.), senior Tanner McClure (Buxton, Maine/Bonny Eagle) and junior Cole Ouellette (Lewiston, Maine) -  earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors.
 
Additionally, senior forward Curtis Judd (Newton, Mass./Albany Academy) was named to the 2023 All-NEHC Second Team, and was a semifinalist for the Joe Concannon Award – an award that is presented annually to the best American-born NCAA Division II/III hockey player in New England by the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston.
 
Several Huskies who have played under Harding have gone on to extend their playing careers professionally, including recent graduates Brendan Dowler '22 who signed with the Danbury Hat Tricks of The Federal Prospects Hockey League and 2021-22 captain Maverick Lynes '22, who signed with the Binghamton Black Bears of the FPHL.
 
Harding will remain with the University through June 15 when his contract expires.
 
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