Last fall, Mike LaChance spent much of his extra time helping to build the Bangor High School cross country team a new home course to run on.

This fall, LaChance will not be around to watch his team on its new trail.

Instead, LaChance will be at home still scratching his head over why he was not rehired by the Bangor School Department as head cross country coach for the 1990 season.

The position was opened up by the school department during the summer and is now being filled by Maynard Walton Jr. LaChance, who had coached the team for three seasons, reapplied for the post but was not rehired.

“I never did get a straight answer from the superintendent (James Doughty),” LaChance said. “He said it was good for the school department to open all of the positions sometimes. I asked if I received any complaints on my coaching. He said, `No.’ I asked if he had had any input from anybody in the decision. He said, `No.’ So all I can do is speculate.”

The final decision on who will be the Bangor High cross country coach will be made by the Bangor School Board, which meets Monday night.

All LaChance really wants, he says, is a straight answer.

“If the administration doesn’t want me there, fine, I’d step down,” LaChance said. “But at least give me a reason.”

When asked why LaChance was not rehired, neither Doughty nor Bangor Athletic Director Steve Vanidestine would comment on the record.

When asked why LaChance was never given an answer, Doughty said, “I think my response to that is the same thing that I told (LaChance). From time to time, I think it’s appropriate to open up and advertise co-curricular positions. I’ve done it before. We interviewed the candidates and I have the recommendation from both (Vanidestine and Principal Norris Nickerson) on my desk. That will be my recommendation (to the school board for approval).”

LaChance speculated that a past discipline problem he had with a Bangor administrator may have led to him not being recommended for the coaching post. LaChance said he had been disciplined for “philosophical differences” with John Fahey, principal of the Fifth Street Middle School and coordinator of both Bangor middle schools. LaChance is a science teacher at Fifth Street.

The younger Walton, son of longtime Ram cross country coach Maynard Walton Sr. and a personal friend of LaChance, has spent a number of years coaching jumpers and throwers on the Rams’ indoor and outdoor track teams. The Bangor position is his first cross country coaching job.

As for the Ram runners, they stand by their former coach, talking at one point about possibly boycotting the season. The runners, many of whom know and like Walton through track, decided to run but are still angry and baffled by the fact that nobody has given them a reason for the change, either.

“(Boycotting the season) was a very serious option for myself and Jeff Sexton,” said Jeff Harrison, the Rams’ top returning runner. “But it’s really out of our hands. I plan to write a letter, but he (Doughty) has the all the power. I respect Maynard Walton and I don’t hold anything personal against him, but it really makes me mad that Coach LaChance will not be coaching us this season.”

“It really grates on me that we don’t know why Mr. LaChance is not the coach,” said Sexton, a senior. “It’s just wrong not to tell somebody what your problem is with them. It seems like Mr. Doughty has the perogative to do that, but it doesn’t seem very moral.”

“I feel like something has been taken away from me,” said Sexton, who ran for LaChance the last three seasons. “He was a great coach and everybody likes him. Over the last three seasons, he’s gotten us closer and closer to qualifying for the states. This is the year we should do it. Whatever the reason, I don’t think it’s in the best interest of the team.”

Meanwhile, LaChance says he will spend more time with his family while only being able to speculate on the situation.

“The superintendent assured me that I had no complaints against me,” he said. “I don’t know what went on. (Doughty) wanted the position filled with the most qualified person and I don’t think he has done that.”