ORONO, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- University of Maine officials announced Tuesday that women's basketball coach Cindy Blodgett has been relieved of her duties, effective immediately.

Blodgett is an iconic UMaine student-athlete who graduated in 1998 and played professionally for four years before becoming a coach. She has been the black bear coach for the past four seasons.

UMaine athletic director Steve Abbott says "All of us who care about UMaine and black bear sports owe Cindy Blodgett a debt of gratitude for her her contributions as both a player and a coach."

According to Abbott, Blodgett will receive one year's salary $109,772 to terminate that agreement. He says money to fund that buyout will come from private sources, with no tuition or taxpayer funds to be used.

Abbott says he plans to launch a national search for a new coach right away.

ORONO, Maine (AP) -- Volunteers are being sought to help scientists in Maine document the local effects of global climate change by recording the seasonal changes of plants and animals in their backyards and neighborhoods.

The project, which is called "Signs of the Seasons: A Maine Phenology Project," is being coordinated by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension and Maine Sea Grant.

Participants in the program will be asked to record their observations on things such sightings of migratory birds, changing leaf color and when certain flowers bloom.

The project will provide training on how to identify and record observations of the seasonal changes.

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ORONO, Maine (AP) -- The University of Maine's interim athletic director is poised to get the job for two more years.

The university says Steve Abbott has agreed to accept a two-year appointment.

Outgoing UMaine President Robert Kennedy says Abbott has shown the leadership skills, vision and commitment that make him suited to continue leading the school's 17-team Division I programs.

Kennedy, who is stepping down in June, says the appointment will give Abbott the opportunity to continue the job while incoming president, Paul Ferguson, learns the job and determines his long-term plan for the athletic director's position.

An Orono native whose father was Maine's football coach, Abbott played on the  football at Orono High School that went undefeated in his four years.  Abbott then captained Harvard's team as a tight-end.