Edmund L. Coombs

A native of Boothbay Harbor, Maine, Coombs prepared for college at Boothbay Harbor High School and Hebron Academy.^[1] He was a three sport athlete (football, basketball, and baseball) at Hebron and was the third ranking student in the class of 1938, which also included Amo Bessone.^[2] He attended Bowdoin College, where he played catcher for the Polar Bears' baseball team and halfback on the football team.^[1] He was captain of Bowdoin's 1942 baseball team.^[3] Coombs graduated in the fall of 1942 and entered the United States Marine Corps.^[4] He was a First lieutenant with the 3rd Marine Division and participated in island invasions in the Pacific War.^[1] He was wounded in action and discharged in October 1945.^[5]

In 1945, Coombs coached Bowdoin's informal football team.^[5] He was an assistant football coach in 1946 and joined the athletic staff full-time the following year as an assistant football and baseball coach.^[1] He later served as the freshman basketball coach and in 1950, succeeded Dinny Shay as varsity coach.^[6] In seven seasons, he compiled a 52–82 record.^[7] In 1957, he returned to the freshman team and was replaced by former Boston Celtics player Bob Donham.^[8]

In 1969, Bowdoin's baseball coach Danny MacFayden was granted indefinite sick leave and Coombs succeeded him as varsity baseball coach.^[9] In 1971, he took over as acting athletic director following the resignation of Daniel K. Stuckey.^[10] He was given the AD's job the following June.^[1] He resigned as baseball coach prior to the 1980 season.^[11] His record over eleven seasons was 60–127.^[3] In February 1981, Coombs announced that he would retire effective September 30.^[11][12] Coombs died February 7, 1986 at a hospital in Brunswick, Maine.^[13]