2 Limestone coaches move to new positions

There will be some new faces on the sidelines this winter at Limestone High School.

Boys varsity basketball coach and athletic director Todd Simpson and girls varsity coach Jeff Hudson have both resigned.

Simpson has relocated to Edward Little High School in Auburn, where he will coach JV boys basketball, and Hudson has taken a position at Presque Isle, where he will assist girls varsity coach Jeff Bearden.

“I went to Edward Little and I’m from Auburn, so I wanted to get back close to my family,” said Simpson. Simpson, who will teach high school physical education at Edward Little, compiled a 12-23 mark over two years.

Simpson, 25, graduated from the University of Maine-Presque Isle in 1995.

He worked as a student assistant for UMPI’s men’s basketball team.

“It was a neat experience, coming from a bigger city. A small town shuts down on game night and everyone comes out to watch,” said Simpson.

Hudson is looking forward to working with Bearden again. The two worked together when Bearden coached at Limestone.

Hudson coached the Eagles to five tournament appearances in five years, amassing a 77-13 record. The 31-year-old Caribou resident went to Presque Isle High School and UM-Farmington.

“It was a career decision, and a chance to get a teaching job . It’s an opportunity to work with Jeff, and Presque Isle is a classy Class A program,” Hudson said.

The Wildcats won the 1997 state championship.

Old Town’s Peter Dauphinee is no stranger to the local running scene. If there’s a race, the Saucony outlet manager is usually competing in it.

But Dauphinee will have to get used to watching races from the sidelines. The 22-year-old has been named the cross country coach at Bangor High and, pending schoool committee approval, will begin practice with the team Monday.

Dauphinee, a 1993 Brewer High grad who attended the University of Maine last year, has no formal coaching experience.

“I can’t wait,” said Dauphinee. “I had planned to help out , but then this landed in my lap.”

Dauphinee will use the training techniques he learned at Brewer.

“We’ll concentrate on strength, flexibility, and rest. There are some guys really looking to improve – they just need the confidence to know that what they’re doing is leading them to that goal,” said Dauphinee.

Dauphinee replaces Pat Sullivan, who coached the Rams for three years. Sullivan, who works for a pharmaceutical company, could no longer balance the demands of his job and his coaching.

“(Pat) received additional responsiblities in his job. A promotion caused the resignation,” said Vanidestine. “But he did a good job. The kids liked him a lot.”

The Brewer athletic department cut golf from its budget two years ago, but that hasn’t stopped the golf team.

For the second year in a row, the golfers are staging fundraisers. The Witches will take on their biggest project when they host a three-person scramble at the Pine Hill Golf Course in Brewer.

“It’s important for the kids to take responsibility, to take ownership, for their team,” said Brewer coach Tom Winston. “This is their program and they’ll see the fruits of their efforts when it comes golf season.”

The scramble is Sept. 7, with sessions at 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. The cost is $75 per team and golfers must call Pine Hill or Brewer High to register in advance.

Winston said it costs $4,000 a year to fund his team. Last year the squad held an auction and raffles. This year the team has worked at local golf tournaments and is holding another raffle.

Winston said the scramble is an annual event and Pine Hill asked the Witches to organize it this year. He hopes his team will have the same opportunity next year.

“Hopefully we’ll get back in the budget next year, and then the money we raise can go toward the extra things, like sweaters or golf bags or hats,” said Winston.

Winston said he expects up to 20 golfers to come out for the team this fall. The Witches return their entire squad from last year, including junior Ben Crowell, who finished sixth in the Class A state championship.