ADs support coaching box not 3 officials

ROCKPORT – Maine’s high school athletic directors endorse a coaching box for high school basketball, but they do not support three-person officiating crews for tournament play.

Those were the conclusions that came out of the business meeting of the Maine Interscholastic Athletic Directors Association, which capped its annual spring conference at the Samoset Resort Inn here last Friday.

With the prompting of the State Basketball Commission, the Maine Principals’ Association Basketball Committed voted recently to recommend that both the coaching box and three-person officiating be implemented on a one-year trial basis next winter.

Members of the MIADA voted 48-10 to support the commission and committee recommendations on the coaching box, which is an option available to states that use the bench decorum “seat belt” rule. The box would allow coaches to stand up and coach within its confines.

However, the athletic directors were unconvinced that three-person officiating was the way to go. The proposal that would add an extra official at an estimated cost of $700 for the entire postseason met strong opposition in the MIADA.

In spite of the financial concession by the officials, ADs were concerned that adding a third official might lead to expanding to three officials during the regular season, thus substantially increasing costs in the future. The vote was 41-15 not to support the Basketball Committee’s recommendation.

The athletic directors also tossed around the idea of an open tournament for basketball, but did not reach any conclusions on the subject.

The Maine Principals’ Association membership is expected to vote on the coaching box and three-person officiating, both on a one-year trial basis, during its spring meeting April 29-30 at the Samoset.

AND THE WINNER IS…. The MIADA handed out numerous honors to members of its association and others who have made significant contributions to Maine sports during its awards banquet.

Dwight Hunter, the athletic director at Caribou High School, was presented with the National Athletic Administrators Association State Award of Merit for his longtime service as an AD. Hunter has been an athletic director for 28 years while serving as a teacher and coach at Caribou.

Hunter was the founder of the Aroostook County Athletic Directors Association and a charter board member of the MIADA. He now serves on the MIADA executive committee.

Ed Fowler, the production manager at the Maine Public Broadcasting Network, was the recipient of the MIADA Sports Media Award. Fowler coordinates MPBN’s coverage of the Eastern Maine high school basketball tournaments.

Gene Hunter of South Portland, older brother of Dwight Hunter, was lauded with the MIADA Retired Athletic Director Award.

The elder Hunter was a teacher, coach and athletic director for more than 35 years. Stops included Houlton, Wilton Academy, Portsmouth (N.H.), South Portland and Morse of Bath.

Gene Hunter coached teams to state basketball titles at Morse of Bath (1956), Portsmouth and South Portland (’71) and won several regional championships. The 70-year-old Hunter has kept a hand in coaching, directing the Lincoln Middle School boys team in Portland last winter.

Gene Hunter was the 1981 Athletic Director of the Year. He also worked for the Maine Sports Hall of Fame and was instrumental in raising money for its athletic scholarship fund.

Gerry Durgin of Fryeburg Academy was chosen as the Maine Athletic Director of the Year.

The Distinguished Service Award for efforts outside the field of athletic administration went to Carroll Rines of Portland. Rines, known as “The Eye,” was a baseball umpire for 44 years, working more than 4,000 games. He also was a sportswriter for Guy Gannett Newspapers for 38 years.

The MIADA recognized some of its veterans for their service, presenting 15-year plaques to Don Dow of Stearns in Millinocket, Bucksport’s Bob Carmichael, and John Sawyer of Narraguagus in Harrington.

Several ADs received pins for 10 years of service. Among them were Chris Downing of Nokomis in Newport, Mike Haley of Dexter, Houlton’s Wayne Quint, Dennis Harmon of Sumner in East Sullivan and Paul Pooler of Waterville.