BIDDEFORD – The University of New England announced Thursday that Curt Smyth has stepped down as athletic director and will transition to the position of associate athletics director, while Heather Davis has been promoted to fill the vacated position.

“I am so pleased with the leadership Curt has provided, and I respect his decision to do what is best for his professional and personal life,” said UNE Provost Joshua Hamilton. “I am also confident that UNE will embrace Heather in her new role. With both Curt and Heather working as a team and continuing to be deeply involved with UNE’s Athletics Department, we are looking forward to another successful year for our Nor’easter teams.”

Smyth had served as interim AD on three occasions before being appointed athletics director in January of 2018. He is entering his 23^rd year at UNE after coming to the University as head women’s basketball coach and sports information director in August of 1997.

“I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to have served as AD,” said Smyth. “The support I have received from senior administration, members of our department, and so many colleagues across campus has been impactful. UNE is such a special place, and I look forward to continuing to serve our student-athletes.”

Davis came to UNE in 2010 and served as head women’s soccer coach through the 2016 season. She assumed the role of associate athletics director for compliance and business operations in June of 2017. Davis is also the Athletics Department’s senior woman administrator and is a Title IX deputy coordinator.

“I am both humbled and honored to receive this opportunity and would like to thank President Herbert and Provost Hamilton for their confidence in me,” Davis commented. “Our athletics program has long demonstrated storied achievement competitively, academically and in the community. I look forward to advancing our program and carrying on the tradition of success that Curt and others have built.”

During her time as associate athletics director, Davis attended the NCAA Convention twice, as well as a pair of ATIXA (Association of Title IX Administrators) courses. Prior to her transition to administration, Davis graduated from the NCAA/Women Leaders in College Sports Institute for Administrative Advancement (IAA), the premier “level one” leadership development program for women in intercollegiate athletics administration. She recently attended the NCAA Inclusion Forum and Senior Woman Administrator Program, for which she was just one of 30 NCAA Division III SWA’s selected.

In addition to her role as a Title IX deputy coordinator, Davis served on one of UNE’s strategic plan working groups and is a member of the University’s advisory committee on community, equity and diversity.

As coach of the Nor’easters’ women’s soccer program, Davis posted a 74-46-13 mark (.605 winning percentage), which included a 41-18-8 record in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) regular-season games. She was voted CCC Coach of the Year in 2012.

Prior to coming to UNE, Davis spent the previous five years at Lock Haven University [NCAA II] and seven seasons before that at Carnegie Mellon University [NCAA III]. She compiled a 67-43-13 record with the CMU Tartans, which included a pair of ECAC Mid-Atlantic Championships (2003, 2004) in her final two seasons at the helm.

Davis had an outstanding soccer playing career at Plymouth State University, where she was a two-time all-region selection. She helped lead the Panthers to the NCAA Final Four in 1993 and an ECAC New England Championship in 1995. Davis graduated in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education and exercise science and was also a three-year member of the Panthers’ women’s lacrosse team.

From PSU, Davis went on to the University of North Carolina to earn a master’s degree in sport administration. While at UNC, she played one season of lacrosse for the Tar Heels before earning her first coaching position as an assistant soccer coach at Washington & Lee University [NCAA III].