Warren Caruso is no stranger to winning. The longtime Husson University men’s basketball coach has amassed nearly 600 victories at the helm of the Division III team in Bangor.
He’s also very familiar with pressure. And not just on the basketball court.
In addition to his more than 30 years as the Husson head coach, he also spent decades running Dana’s Grill in the Bangor area with his wife. And the high-intensity restaurant world helped prepare him for the ups and downs of coaching.
“I was asked a long time ago about, how do I handle the pressure of coaching,” Caruso said.
He responded that the pressure of coaching doesn’t compare to an 80 degree Friday night in the summer when trying to get 100 orders out the window.
“And that’s pressure, because everyone wants their food on time,” Caruso said with a laugh.
Caruso said that resilience and customer service skills he picked up in the restaurant business have translated well to coaching.
Those qualities have paid off, with Caruso leading the Eagles to 582 total wins so far as they prepare for another season.
And now he’s heading into the Maine Sports Hall of Fame on Sunday as a member of the 2025 class of inductees.
Among the other legendary sports figures that he will be joining in the hall is Kissy Walker, his counterpart in charge of the Husson women’s basketball team.
Walker hailed Caruso’s positivity and resilience.
“He just has such a positive, even-keeled demeanor with everything that he does,” Walker said. “I know during the games he can get more intense like we all do when it’s a close game. But we ride the bus together. We have long trips. And win or lose, his demeanor doesn’t change when he gets on that bus.”
Walker also cited Caruso’s business experience when discussing his ability to deal with adversity and always find positive things to focus on with his team.
“He has great resilience. He was also a businessman and ran businesses,” Walker said. “And just like his team, we have ups and downs. And he just really handles it in a positive way.”
Walker also highlighted Caruso’s ability to connect with his players.
Caruso said he has always prioritized those relationships with players, focusing on ways to help them learn and grow.
“We’re always saying, ‘Look, we’re here to be a coach for four years. But we want a relationship, we want a friendship for life,’” Caruso said.
Part of Caruso’s ability to connect with players from many different backgrounds stems from his childhood, the longtime coach said.
He spent time shuffling from several different schools at a young age, which he said forced him to build up resilience and helped him develop a sense that “things are gonna be OK.”
He has brought that same attitude to the sidelines, focusing more on building relationships with his team and putting less pressure on achieving specific results.
And the results have still worked out just fine, with Husson winning 10 conference titles since 2009, according to the school. He’s been named conference coach of the year seven times, and also had a four-year playing career at the school before turning to coaching.
Even with his decorated resume, Caruso insists that the program’s success and his Hall of Fame honor has been a collective journey.
“This is not a me thing,” Caruso said. “This is the collection of so many great people involved in the program.”
He pointed to “tremendous support” from assistant coaches, student athletes and Husson administrators.
Caruso also stressed the pivotal support system provided by his family, noting that his wife Nicole has “been at my side through thick and thin.” And he highlighted how both of his sons have been part of the Husson men’s basketball program as well, either in playing or assistant coaching capacities.
And now it’s a surreal feeling for him to join the Maine Sports Hall of Fame. He’s grateful for the many people who have helped make it possible along the way.
“You know, 32 years later as a head coach, it seems like it’s gone by so quick because it’s been a labor of love, and just something I’ve enjoyed almost every moment of,” Caruso said. “And to be honored by a group of your peers for your accomplishments is just really humbling.”