Courtesy Bates Sports Information

LEWISTON, Maine - Bates College on Tuesday announced the appointment of Pat Cosquer as head coach of the Bobcats' men's and women's squash teams.

Cosquer, a 1997 Bates graduate, most recently served as director of squash programs at StreetSquash in Harlem, N.Y., an after-school enrichment program which combines academic tutoring, community service, mentoring and college preparation with squash instruction.

"I am very excited that Pat will be joining our Department," said Bates Director of Athletics Kevin McHugh. "Aside from providing exceptional leadership for the Bates squash program, I know that Pat will also be a wonderful addition to an already outstanding staff."

Over his four years with StreetSquash, Cosquer coached the four-time Girls Under 17/19 National Urban Team Champions, the three-time Boys Under 17/19 National Urban Individual Champion, the 2008 Boys Under 17/19 National Urban Team Champion and several nationally ranked juniors while helping to increase his teams' academic average by nearly 10 points.

During that time, Cosquer also worked as an assistant squash professional at The Chatham Club in Chatham, N.J., where he first began playing squash, and administered junior clinics at the Montclair YMCA and the Wayne YWHA.

Prior to returning to New Jersey in 2004, Cosquer coached squash at Portsmouth Abbey School in Portsmouth, R.I., and acted as assistant squash professional at the famed Newport Squash Club.

In 1998, Cosquer led the Northwestern University men's squash team to the Chaffee Division Trophy, and he has taught squash at various summer camps including Bowdoin College, Brown University and the World Scholar-Athlete Games.

Cosquer, a native of Westfield, N.J., was a four-year letterwinner on the Bobcat men's squash and baseball teams. During his squash career under Hall of Fame coach George Wigton, Cosquer amassed a 60-22 individual record and was team captain and team MVP his senior year.

"It is a dream come true to have the opportunity to return to Bates to guide the squash program that has meant so much to me," said Cosquer. "I am excited to continue the tradition of developing strong scholar-athletes and future leaders at Bates."

Cosquer assumes leadership of a pair of programs that are among the nation's best. Both the men's and women's teams perennially are ranked among the top 12 in the nation, as rated by the College Squash Association. The Bates men's team finished with a No. 9 ranking in 2008, the best in program history. The women's team finished ranked No. 12 in 2008, following a four-year stretch in which the Bobcats won three straight Kurtz Cups (going to the best team in the B Division (teams ranked 9 through 16) at CSA Team Nationals) and won a program-record 19 matches in 2007.