Sport will return to NECC in fall 2019

Northern Essex Community College Director of Athletics Dan Blair has announced Jayme Bates has been named head coach of the Knights reestablished women’s basketball program. He began March 1. “I would like to thank Athletic Director Dan Blair, and Northern Essex Community College for the opportunity to serve as NECC’s new Women’s Basketball Coach. I look forward to building our team from the ground up, and can’t wait to get out on the recruiting trail this spring,” said Bates. Prior to joining Northern Essex, Bates had significant junior college coaching experience in upstate New York. Most recently he was the head women’s coach at Columbia Greene Community College in Hudson, NY from 2016-2018, where he built a program from the ground up after it had been dormant since 2006. His record over two seasons as head coach was 32-24.

Prior to his time at Columbia Greene, Bates spent time as an assistant men’s coach at both Hudson Valley Community College and Schenectady Community College. A native of Troy, N.Y., he attended Hudson Valley Community College where he served as a student assistant with the men’s basketball program. When on the staff the team secured a 20-10 record. “I’m excited to bring Jayme on board here at NECC. To identify someone with his experience to help us in reestablishing the women’s basketball program at the college, I couldn’t be happier. I look forward to watching the program grow,” said Blair. The NECC women’s basketball program will return to the court in the fall of 2019 for the first time since 2012. Prospective students interested in the NECC women’s basketball program are encouraged to complete the NECC Athletic Recruitment Form or contact Coach Bates at jbates@necc.mass.edu, or the athletic department directly at 978-556-3820.