WATERVILLE — More changes are coming to the Thomas College athletic department.

Fresh on the heals of naming Winslow native Ted Rioux its next women’s basketball coach, Thomas announced Wednesday that athletic director Deb Biche will resign to become the school’s women’s soccer coach.

“I’m so passionate about coaching soccer,” said Biche, who served as Thomas athletic director for nearly three years. “I really missed it. When I took the position of athletic director I knew I was going to miss coaching, and that would be a part of it. It’s been something I’ve been challenged with. So I was so grateful for this opportunity.”

Biche will replace Terry Parlin as soccer coach. Parlin will remain as softball coach and serve as interim athletic director until a replacement is found.

“They will be doing a national search in the first semester,” Parlin said. “It’s in the best interest of the school to have one coach per sport. I’ll still have my softball duties, but doing both made it somewhat difficult. It cut into recruiting. I had fall softball and soccer and it made it tough.”

Added Biche: “One of the goals I had when I was (athletic director) was to create more full-time positions for our coaches. We wanted one coach per sport. Terry was coaching two sports and also had administrative duties, too. This is something that will give him the opportunity to focus just on softball. It was a no-brainer.”

Parlin added he is not interested in the full-time athletic director job.

“I’m just looking to get us through this period,” he said. “I’m sure they will bring somebody good in here.”

During her tenure as athletic director Biche hired three full-time coaches, including Rioux.

Thomas hired Rioux, who led the Waterville Senior High School girls basketball team to three consecutive Class B championships (2007-09), last week.

Biche came to Thomas with a strong soccer background.

She was the women’s soccer coach at St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y., from 1998 to 2008. Biche went 137-90-15 with the Saints.

“I’m thrilled to be back out doing the coaching aspect of it,” Biche said. “I really missed it. I really enjoy the interaction with the student-athletes. I missed that.

Biche, who played soccer at Plymouth State University, also was an assistant at Division I Davidson College. She previously coached the women’s soccer team at St. Joseph’s College in Standish from 1993-96. She finished 33-17-4 at St. Joe’s.

Parlin coached the women’s soccer team for the last two seasons.

The Terriers went 6-11-0 last season, including 2-5 in the North Atlantic Conference.

“I’ve been in touch with everybody on the team,” Biche said. “They know what is going on. Hopefully, I’m not too far behind. I want to build the program and get things off and running.”

The transition officially occurs Aug. 15.

Bill Stewart — 621-5640

bstewart@centralmaine.com

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