Central Maine Community College Women's Basketball

Morong has led the Lady Mustangs to an overall record of 116-35 and a Yankee Conference record of 60-11.  During his tenure, CM has seen 8 All-Americans, 6 Academic All-Americans, 9 All-Conference selections, 2 Conference Player of the Year selections, 3 Yankee Conference Tournament MVP's, and most impressively, 17 Academic All-Conference selections. The 2013-14 campaign was a special one for Coach Morong and the Lady Mustangs, as CM reached the USCAA DII National Championship Game.  After a second straight undefeated regular season in the YSCC, the Lady Mustangs won their 3rd straight YSCC Tournament Championship and earned the #1 seed in the USCAA National Tournament.  CM defeated Warren Wilson College in the quarterfinals, the programs first win in the elimination round of the national tournament.  In the Final Four, the Lady Mustangs knocked off Berkeley College to advance to the National Championship Game.  After leading Cincinnati-Clermont at the half by 3, CM could not hang on and finished with a record of 28-3.  CM joined only Bowdoin College and USM as the only 3 women's basketball programs in the state to ever reach a national title game. Morong is a 2004 graduate of Morse High School. After high school Morong attended St. John's University in New York City where he studied Sports Management before transferring back home to the University of Maine.  Morong started coaching career at Morse High School as a varsity assistant coach during the 2005-2006 school year, and was named the Associate Head Coach for the 2007-08 season. Morong spent three years as a girls varsity assistant at Morse before being named the Girls Varsity Basketball Coach at Poland Regional High School where he held that title from 2008-2011. In 2008 Coach Morong graduated from the University of Maine with a B.A. in Psychology and a Minor in Business.  In August of 2013, Morong earned his Masters Degree in Sports Management from Southern New Hampshire University.

In his 13 seasons at the helm of the Central Maine Community College (CMCC) women’s basketball program, Head Coach, Andrew Morong has established one of the most successful dynasties in USCAA history. Under his leadership, the Mustangs have compiled an impressive 347-54 (.865) overall record and a dominant 174-16 (.916) mark in Yankee Small College Conference (YSCC) play. Coach Morong’s teams have consistently achieved both athletic and academic excellence. His tenure has produced: 26 USCAA All-Americans 25 USCAA Academic All-Americans 29 All-Conference selections 3 Conference Players of the Year 11 Yankee Conference Tournament MVPs 1 USCAA National Student-Athlete of the Year 50 Academic All-Conference honorees Morong guided CMCC to three USCAA Division II National Championships: 2016–17: A historic 33-1 campaign saw the Mustangs become the first women’s collegiate basketball team in Maine to win a national title. The team went undefeated in conference play, secured both regular season and tournament titles, and won every game of the national tournament by double digits. Morong was named USCAA National Coach of the Year. 2018–19: CMCC capped a 28-2 season with a thrilling 85-78 victory over top-ranked Villa Maria College in the national championship game—its second title in three years. 2021–22: Following a COVID-canceled 2020–21 season and a national runner-up finish in 2020, the Mustangs returned to the top, earning their third national championship in five years and marking their fifth consecutive appearance in the title game. In addition, Morong has led teams to four national runner-up finishes (2014, 2018, 2020, and 2023), firmly cementing CMCC as a perennial powerhouse on the national stage. A 2004 graduate of Morse High School in Bath, Maine, Morong began his coaching career at his alma mater, serving as a varsity assistant from 2005–2008 and associate head coach in 2007–08. He then became head girls’ basketball coach at Poland Regional High School from 2008–2011. Morong holds a B.A. in Psychology with a Business minor from the University of Maine (2008) and earned a Master’s degree in Sports Management from Southern New Hampshire University (2013). He is currently pursuing his Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership. In addition to his coaching duties, Morong serves as Dean of Enrollment Management at CMCC and is a member of the college’s senior leadership team, where he contributes to strategic planning, student recruitment, and retention initiatives. He lives in Sabattus with his wife, Ambyr, and their two children, Camden and Lucy.

Mike Damon enters his first season as a CMCC Women's Basketball Assistant Coach in 2025-26. He joined the Mustangs after spending a decade coaching AAU basketball around New England, picking up state and regional championships. He is currently the Co-Director of the Southern Maine Sting AAU club and heads up the girls basketball program, helping athletes get recruited to play at the next level, including several athletes to CMCC. Additionally, Damon spent four years as a coach with the Waynflete School boys basketball team. A Portland, ME native, Damon had a standout high school career with the South Portland Red Riots, being named a Southwestern Maine Activities Association (SMAA) All-Star and All-Star game MVP as a senior. He went on to play college basketball for the New England College Pilgrims. *updated July 2025

Sabine returns to CM as an Assistant Women's Basketball Coach after graduating from St. Michael's College (Colchester, VT) in the spring of 2015. Sabine was a USCAA 1st Team All-American and YSCC 1st Team All-Star for the Lady Mustangs during the 2012-13 season, and helped lead CM to two consecutive Yankee Conference Tournament Championships.  In both seasons she was named the Yankee Conference Tournament MVP, and averaged a double-double during the 12-13 season leading the Lady Mustangs to a Yankee Conference Regular Season Championship, an undefeated conference record, and the #1 seed in the USCAA DII National Tournament.  In the 2013 USCAA National Tournament, Sabine set a tournament record of 11 made field goals in a win over Penn State Brandywine. Shortly after her 2nd season at CM, Sabine was offered a full basketball scholarship to St. Michael's College.  She started all 52 games of her career for the Purple Knights, averaging 11.2 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, while being named to the NE-10 Weekly Basketball Honor Roll a total of 12 times.

Abby Nielsen enters her seventh season as an assistant women’s basketball coach heading into the 2025-26 season. Since joining the staff in the fall of 2018, she has played a key role in the programs’ continued success, contributing to two USCAA National Championships (2019 and 2022), while winning the Yankee Small College Conference Tournament and regular seasons titles and making the national tournament field in all seven seasons. Coach Nielsen is known for her leadership, dedication, and ability to foster a winning team culture both on and off the court. Before beginning her coaching career, Nielsen was a standout student-athlete at SMCC for two seasons before finishing her college career at NCAA DIII Thomas College. On the court, she helped lead the Seawolves basketball team to back-to-back USCAA national tournament appearances in 2015 and 2016. On the softball diamond, she picked up YSCC All-Conference honors in both years. She was recognized as the Carroll Rines Sports Person of the Year in May 2016 and was a two-time Phi Theta Kappa honoree for her academic excellence. After transferring, Nielsen spent two seasons with the Terriers while completing her Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Management. She played in all 50 games for the women’s basketball team as a junior and senior, averaging more than 19 minutes per game and racking up 235 career points. With the softball team, Nielsen helped Thomas win the 2017 NAC Tournament with a 2-0 victory over Castleton University to claim a bid to the NCAA Tournament. Her 2017 squad was inducted into Thomas’ Hall of Fame in 2025. She racked up nine hits with two RBIs and six runs scored in 20 games as a senior in 2018. Outside of coaching, Nielsen works as an Admissions Representative at Central Maine Community College, helping guide prospective students on their educational journeys. She lives locally with her puppy, who joined the family in August 2024, and enjoys balancing her professional and personal passions. *updated July 2025