Brown resignation fueled by CAHS forfeit

When Central Aroostook boys soccer coach Alan Brown submitted his resignation two weeks ago, in the middle of the season, he did so in a shroud of controversy. With it came many unanswered questions.

On Sept. 1, things were looking normal in Mars Hill. The Central Aroostook boys soccer team was hosting Washburn High and had built a 5-0 lead over the Beavers.

The host Panthers were set to add another mark to the win column when all normalcy began to dissipate in a frenzy of yellow cards.

During a six-minute span of the second half, Washburn came storming back. Central Aroostook’s lead went from 5-0 to 5-4. Just like that, it was a new ball game.

With 40 seconds left in the game, one of the referees issued a red card after a physical confrontation involving players from both teams. In the confusion that followed, Brown was given a yellow card for unsportsmanlike conduct.

He had received another yellow card earlier in the game. His second meant an automatic ejection. With no assistant coach on the bench to take over for Brown, the game was ruled a forfeit, giving Washburn a 1-0 victory.

In the days that followed, Brown, in his sixth year as coach, was asked to resign.

“I felt that, for the program, that was the best thing to do,” Brown said. “The program was going in the direction I wanted it to go, but there were events which happened that didn’t look like they were going to change. I just felt that for the benefit of the program and the kids, I should get out.”

“They were personal reasons,” said Roger Shaw, Central Aroostook’s principal and acting athletic director. “He had some concerns that came up during the year that had nothing to do with soccer. He decided it would be in the best interest for everybody if he resigned.”

When asked if the ejection had anything to do with his resigning, Brown thought carefully before answering.

“It wasn’t the straw that broke the camel’s back,” he said. “It was a number of things.”

Brown would not go into specifics. He is still teaching junior high school social studies in the Central Aroostook school system and expects to coach junior varsity girls basketball in the winter.

“We’re sorry to see Alan go,” Shaw said. “He has adous rapport with the kids.”

Both Shaw and Brown have high hopes for what interim coach Dave Collins is doing with the team, which is now 7-5-1.

“We were fortunate to have somebody to step in for the rest of the season,” Shaw said. “He’s the recreation director in town and he knows the kids.”

“He’ll do a good job,” Brown said.

Twenty-two-year-old Tobin Slaven has been named the new boys varsity basketball coach at Machias High School.

Slaven was approved for the post by the Machias school board earlier this week. He will replace Ron Brown, who resigned after last season’s 9-9 campaign.

“I’m probably not going to out-coach anybody, but what I lack in experience, I’ll make up for in hard work,” Slaven said. “It’s going to be a challenge, but I’m looking forward to it.”

“Part of what we want to see out him is dedication and enthusiasm,” Machias Athletic Director Jamie Weggler said. “We’re pretty excited about him.”

Slaven played his high school ball at George Stevens Academy in Blue Hill.

I was always one of those players who knew what I should do, but try as I might, I couldn’t always get it done,” Slaven said. “I wasn’t the most talented player.”

He then went on to graduate from Colby College in Waterville, where he worked as a statistician for the White Mules basketball team. While on the bench, Slaven learned a lot from Colby Coach Dick Whitmore.

“I was always watching him, and I kept my ears open,” Slaven said.