BANGOR, Maine -- Former Westbrook College Director of Athletics and Men's Basketball Coach, Jim Graffam, will be honored later this year when the Maine Basketball Hall of Fame inducts its Class of 2023 on August 20 at the Cross Insurance Center. As announced by the organization on Tuesday (Feb. 7), Graffam will be one of the six 'Legends of the Game' recognized, on top of 17 individuals and two teams.

Graffam helped build the Westbrook College athletics program, starting in 1990 and through 1996 until the merger with the University of New England. As the coach of the Wildcats, he led the men's basketball teams to nearly 140 wins over six seasons, which included NAIA National Championship berths in 93-94 and 94-95, and Mayflower Conference titles in 93-94, 94-95, and 95-96. He received a couple Maine Coach of the Year awards along the way.

In 2011, Graffam was inducted into the UNE Varsity Club Athletics Hall of Fame. His most celebrated squad from Westbrook (93-94) was later inducted in 2015.

The Midcoast Maine native predominantly spent his coaching career of over 40 years in New England, around all levels of the game. From his playing days, Graffam was inducted into the University of Southern Maine Husky Hall of Fame in 1991. 

One of his four-year players at Westbrook, Derek Vogel, was entered into the Maine Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019. Graffam also joins two other UNE connections in the 'Legends of the Game' category. Jim Beaudry, St. Francis College Director of Athletics and coach, was recognized in 2018, while former UNE men's basketball coach (1992-99) and longtime Biddeford High School coach, Ron Cote, was recognized in 2022.

The Maine Basketball Hall of Fame was founded in 2013.

Maine Basketball Hall of Fame