Coach Caruso came to Husson in 1984. He has seen the program
from almost all angles: as a freshman he appeared in only 13 games
but worked his way through the system and as a senior he was named
captain and averaged 14 points per game. While finishing school in
1988, head coach Bruce MacGregor invited him to join the staff, an
opportunity he quickly accepted. Coach Caruso would spend six years
as Coach MacGregor's assistant. During that time, coach's
responsibilities focused on recruiting, game preparation, and
practices. The program made four trips to the NAIA National
Tournament in those six years. The experience and knowledge gained
while working under legendary Coach MacGregor (526 career wins) is
extremely valuable today and helps make Coach Caruso's teams
successful. Coach Caruso's love for the basketball program comes
from his hard work as a player and as an assistant to help make the
program successful. This hard work and love helped Caruso to be
named head coach in 1994.
Coach Caruso begins his sixteenth year as head coach with an
overall record of 294-139. He has guided the program to six
conference championships and trips to the NAIA National Tournament
including three straight trips 2000, 2001, and 2002. There have
been many big wins over the years, one in 1999 when Husson defeated
Embry-Riddle University 89-75. Embry-Riddle went on to win the NAIA
National Championship that year in Branson, MO. The most memorable
win for Coach Caruso came in 1996 when Husson upset NCAA Div. I
University of Maine 73-72. Everyone who was at the game will
remember Chris Funk's 3-pointer going through the net with seven
seconds left to give Husson the win.
A 1989 graduate of Husson, Caruso earned a Bachelor Science Public
Accounting. Coach Caruso has run a family business since 1981 and
took over complete operations of Dana's Grill in 1988 from his
father Richard. Dana's Grill has been in operations in the Bangor
area since 1938.
Coach Caruso believes in education and to date, 34-38 of his seniors have graduated. He also feels that knowledge is gained though life experiences. Over the years, Husson has traveled throughout the United States, each year taking a trip to compete against some of the top programs in the country. Over the last fourteen years the program has traveled to Florida (5 times, California (3 times), Idaho (4 times), Canada (3 times), Arizona, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Missouri (3 times) and all over the Northeast regions.
Coach Caruso has been a member of the National Association of
Basketball Coaches since 1990, and Coach Caruso has served on the
NABC National Congress since 2006. In 2008 he served on the ECAC
Selection Committe for the ECAC New England Basketball
Championship. Caruso is the past president of the Maine
Basketball Coaches and Writers Association, an organization that
serves college basketball in Maine. In the past, he served on two
national committees with the NAIA, Men's Basketball Rating
Committee and Men's Basketball All-American Committee. Coach is
also the Co-director of Northeast Basketball Schools and Director
of Husson Hoops Clinics, summer camps for younger players.
Coach Caruso was born and raised in Bangor, Maine. He enjoys being
a part of the community where he grew up, went to school, works,
and is raising a family with his wife Nicole. Coach Caruso and
Nicole started dating in 1983 and married on September 29, 1990.
They have two children Nathan Richard Caruso born February 29, 1996
and Luke Ballard Caruso born March 23, 2001.
Coach Scott Cunningham has served as an assistant coach since 2004. Coach Cunningham played four years at Husson and was a constant leader and mentor to the student athletes in the program.
Cunningham coaches the JV team in a 5-8 game schedule. He has a great understanding for the game and how important each player's role is to the success of the program. Coach Cunninghams other responsibilities include player development, practice, recruiting, and travel arrangement.
Coach Cunningham earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in
Business Adminstration -Sports Management in May 2004. He is
self-employed as a carpenter/contractor. Prior to coming to
Husson, he graduated rom Orono High School. Coach Cunningham and
his wife Kendra reside in Glenburn and are member of the Bangor
Baptist Church.
Coach Mark Baxter joined the staff in 2007. Coach Baxter began his varisty coaching career at Central Aroostook where his teams finished #1 in the Class D Heal Point standings two years in a row (1999 and 2000). He went on to teach Physical Education and coach varsity boys basketball at Fort Kent High School. Coach Baxter began coaching while in college, starting with junior high school and working his way up to the JV level.
Coach Baxter's reponsibilities will include player development, scouting, and recruiting.
Coach Baxter grew up in Holden, Maine, graduated from John Bapst High School in 1994, and was mameber of the 1993 Class C State Championship basketball team. He attended U. Maine Presque Isle where he was member of the men's basketball team. Coach Baxter graduated in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education and Elementary Education.
Coach Baxter teaches Physical Education for SAD 64, and he lives
in Brewer.
Gus Ofili was raised in Waterbury, CT. Gus attended Sacred Heart High School (3 years) and graduated from John Kennedy High School. At Sacred Heart, Gus played basketball and football. He attended Eastern Maine Community College and received his Associate Degree in Business Management. At EMCC he played basketball for two years. Gus is finishing his Bachelors Degree in Busniess Managment at Husson.
At Husson Gus is responsible for out of state recruiting, daily
practice, and conditioning.
