Veteran coach Robert Sanicola joined Huskies’ Athletics as the 16th head men’s basketball coach in program history.
His first season at Hill Gym included a berth into the 2022 Little East Conference playoffs, and an opening round win against Castleton University. Under Sanicola’s direction, junior guard Cody Hawes earned post-season honors from the Little East Conference and Maine Men’s Basketball Coaches’ & Writers’ Association (MMBCWA), while senior forward Marcus Christopher became the first USM men’s basketball player to be named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches’ (NABC) Honor Court.
Sanicola has led the Huskies to the Little East Conference tournament in each of his three seasons. Southern Maine finished the 2023-24 season with a 14-12 overall record and a 9-7 mark in Little East Conference action. The Huskies' 14-12 record marking the first back-to-back winning campaigns for the program in more than 30 years. During his tenure, he has coached four players to All-Little East Conference honors, one player to a All-Defensive Team selection and three players to MMBCWA All-State honors and has had two players named to the MMCCWA All-Rookie Team.
No stranger to Division III men’s basketball in the State of Maine, Sanicola came to Gorham from nearby St. Joseph’s College (Maine) where he has led the Monks since 2003, earning Coach of the Year honors seven times during his tenure. In his 18 seasons in Windham, Sanicola has led SJC to a record of 275-190, a mark of 140-78 (.642) in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) competition and has guided his teams into the GNAC postseason each season (2008-2020).
Providing strong leadership and interest in the personal, academic, and athletic progression of his student-athletes, Sanicola had developed 46 GNAC All-Academic Team members, 25 All-GNAC picks, including nine first team selections, and produced 18 Maine Men’s Basketball Coaches and Writers Association (MMBCWA) All-State honorees at SJC. Fourteen of Sanicola’s student-athletes have met or surpassed the 1000-point milestone. In recent history, Sanicola has coached the 2020 GNAC Player of the Year, and 2020 State of Maine Player of the Year, and he helped develop a 2021 D3Hoops.com First Team All-American.
Upon his hiring, Sanicola said, “I’m excited to get to work and for this new opportunity, and I am looking forward to immersing myself into the University of Southern Maine community,” said Sanicola. “I’m eager to get started, to get to know the team, and to begin establishing the long and short-term goals necessary for Huskies men’s basketball to fulfill its potential. The University of Southern Maine and this Athletic Department has a proud tradition of success on-and-off of the field of competition. In addition to their athletic achievements, Husky student-athletes graduate from Southern Maine prepared to lead and become vital members of their communities.”
Prior to his role as head coach at SJC, Sanicola served as the program’s assistant coach from 1999-2003. While on the bench as an assistant, Sanicola was part of a staff that combined for a record of 69-37 over four seasons, which included three appearances in the Maine Athletic Conference Championship game, and a berth into the NAIA Division II National Championship in 2002. Sanicola was instrumental in the recruiting process of two NAIA Division II All-Americans, and one conference Player of the Year.
Administratively, Sanicola has held the position of Associate Athletic Director, Assistant Athletic Director and Coordinator for Intercollegiate Athletics. In these roles, Sanicola has provided oversight, leadership, and director support in the strategic management of an intercollegiate athletics program. A designee of the Maine Student Athletes of Color (SAOC), Sanicola recently participated in the 2021 NCAA Inclusion Forum, and has been an active member in SJC’s Justice, Equity, Diversity Inclusion Committee.
A 1999 graduate of St. Joseph’s College (Maine), Sanicola was a four-year member of the Monks’ men’s basketball team. Serving as the team captain in his senior season, he helped his team to a school-record 26 wins during the 1998-99 season and a berth into the national tournament. He resides in Windham with his wife Audrey and his two children.
