Bates College Men's Golf

James Upham was named the head coach of the Bates Nordic program after serving as the Nordic team's interim head coach for the 2023 season. Bringing a lifetime's wealth of knowledge about Nordic skiing, he completed in his eighth year as assistant coach at Bates in 2021-22.  "It's very much a family feel with this team," Upham said. "I will certainly put my own stamp on this program but we have a great thing going and it's just more about what little things we can do to improve here and there."  Coach Upham has served as the head Paralympic Nordic Coach for the U.S. Biathlon Association, following an eight-year stint as the association's development coach. He directly coached five athletes to the 2006 Olympic Biathlon team in Turin, Italy, and to four medals at the 2010 and 2014 Paralympic Games. From 1999 to 2001, Upham worked as Swixsport USA's Nordic specialist, and prior to that he was head Nordic coach and history teacher at Burke Mountain Academy. Upham won a junior national biathlon championship and competed on two junior world championship teams. His father, Tom Upham, competed in the 1968 Winter Olympics and coached the U.S. women's cross country ski team at the 1976 Winter Olympics. Coach Upham graduated magna cum laude in 1995 from Northern Michigan University and earned a master's degree in sports management from Lasell University in 2021. "James is incredible and I feel like from a timing standpoint, it could not have fit more perfectly," outgoing head coach Becky Woods '89 said. "When James came to Bates, he was totally overqualified to be my assistant. But he was humble about that, and he worked really hard, and it's the right time for him to have the opportunity to take this over. He has incredible roots here as well. His grandparents went here, his aunt worked here, so we both have really similar backgrounds with Bates and it allows us to have sort of a deeper understanding of what Bates can do for our athletes, and what it means to be a part of the community. It should be a seamless transition and I think our team will be really excited about it." Portland Press Herald: "Mainer teaches Paralympians to meet challenge, dream big" 

Flynn to return as head coach of the mens and womens golf team, replacing Peter Lasagna. The 2008 season will be Flynns 16th with the golf team, and the 11th as head coach. Flynn, a longtime head and assistant coach at Bates in golf, Nordic skiing and baseball, previously was Bates head golf coach from 1990 to 1998. He shared head coaching duties with Lasagna in 2001 and has remained with the team as an assistant coach since 2002. Flynn will continue as an assistant coach with the Bates Nordic skiing and baseball teams. Lasagna, the mens lacrosse head coach at Bates, has been reassigned other administrative duties within the Department of Athletics, in addition to leading the mens lacrosse program. Bates is extremely fortunate to have someone with Bobs background and experience fill the head golf coach position, said Director of Athletics Kevin McHugh. Bob is a wonderful teacher of the game and he is well-respected and appreciated by the golf team members, so we expect the program to continue to grow and improve. Flynn has been a fixture in Bates athletics for 43 years. He was head skiing coach at Bates from 1968 to 1990 and was instrumental in the programs move to Division I competition in 1972, and in bringing the 1976 NCAA Skiing Championships to Bates. Flynn was also head baseball coach from 1991 to 1999. He is a member of the Lewiston-Auburn Sports Hall of Fame, the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame and the Maine Ski Hall of Fame. I look forward to continuing the success weve been building over the past several years in Bates golf, said Flynn.

Shawn Warren has been named Bates College's new director of men's golf. Warren, a PGA Class A professional, has participated in three PGA Championships (2018, 2020, 2022) and is a five-time New England PGA Player of the Year. A Mainer and 2003 graduate of Windham High School, Warren was a two-time Maine Junior Amateur Champion (2000, 2001) and the Maine State High School Champion in 2002. He was unbeaten in match play (49-0-7) during his high school career. Coach Warren played his collegiate golf at Marshall University in West Virginia and was a three-year captain for the Thundering Herd. He later became an assistant coach at his alma mater, and served as an assistant pro at such premier Maine golf courses as Dunegrass Country Club (Old Orchard Beach), Nonesuch Country Club (Scarborough), and Falmouth Country Club. "I am beyond grateful to be joining the Bates family," Warren said. "The opportunity to lead a collegiate golf program is something for which I am incredibly thankful. A top priority of mine is to build a highly-engaged team that shares my commitment to blending the education and athletic opportunities that Bates College provides. Go Bobcats!"

Bates College is proud to announce the appointment of Ian Gould as Director of Women's Golf, effective July 14, 2025. The Portland Press Herald Golf Coach of the Year joins the Bobcats following a remarkable run as head coach of the Gardiner High School golf team, where he led the Tigers to the 2024 Maine Class B State Championship — their first in 60 years.  "Ian brings a powerful blend of coaching acumen, championship experience, and a values-driven approach that aligns beautifully with the mission of Bates Athletics," said Interim Director of Athletics Will Rothermel. "His leadership helped create a transformative moment for his Gardiner team, and we are confident he will have a similar impact with our student-athletes on and off the course." In addition to team success, Gould played a pivotal role in the development of individual players, including Varsity Maine Boys Golfer of the Year, Jack Quinn, who won both the Class B State and New England Interscholastic Golf Championships. "I'm honored and excited to join the Bates community," said Gould. "Bates is a place where excellence, inclusion, and integrity are woven into everything. I'm eager to help our student-athletes grow as players and people, and to build a program that reflects the values of this incredible institution." A lifelong Mainer and a University of Southern Maine graduate, Gould has also dedicated much of his career to social work, mental health, and youth mentorship. His holistic coaching philosophy emphasizes resilience, growth, and confidence — qualities that mirror Bates' commitment to student development.