Sherry Deschaine, at the time Sherry Yakawonis, was hired to teach physical education at Bates in 1968 straight out of the University of Maine at Presque Isle and immediately became the school's first women's basketball coach.

Thirty years later, she retired after having had a hand in almost every women's sport on campus. She served as the head field hockey coach for 26 years and as the head softball coach for 21. Deschaine also at various times coached women's lacrosse and volleyball, and she assisted with the track and field team. She even coached varsity badminton and bowling during her time at Bates.

Deschaine coached field hockey from 1969-1994. She had 14 winning seasons in her first 15 years as the field hockey coach, including a 13-2-2 record in 1975 and marks of 12-2-2 and 10-2-3 in 1982 and 1983 respectively. Deschaine's career record at the helm of the field hockey program was 174-119-37. She coached softball from 1977-1997 and had six straight winning seasons from 1985-1990. Bates softball went 12-3 in 1994, still the best winning percentage in one season in program history. 

“Sherry focused on each individual, confident that individual success would lead to team success,” former Bates women's cross country and track & field coach Carolyn Court said. “Sherry did not bring in specialty coaches. She personally worked with the pitchers in softball and goalkeepers in field hockey, armed with knowledge from clinics and close coaching relationships. Sherry's athletes were challenged by their coach to work to their full potential while forming friendships that would last a lifetime.”

Related: Catching up with Bates coaching pioneer Sherry Deschaine