Savage resigns as Brewer hoop coach

Mark Savage, who directed the Brewer High School boys basketball team for 11 seasons, has resigned as the Witches’ coach.

The Brewer School Committee voted Monday night to accept Savage’s resignation, with regret, according to Brewer High athletic director Dennis Kiah.

Savage, who submitted the letter about a week ago to Brewer Superintendent of Schools Allan Snell, could not be reached for comment Monday night.

Kiah said he did not know Savage’s rationale for stepping down.

“Basically, he just came and said that he was going to get done,” Kiah said. “That’s all it was. I can’t really answer for him about whatever the reasons might be.”

Savage, the 1996 Maine Physical Education Teacher of the Year, will stay on at the high school as a physical education and outdoor education teacher.

Last spring, Savage was the subject of a petition drive by area residents who sought his dismissal as the Brewer coach. Nearly 500 people signed a petition asking that the school committee not renew Savage’s coaching contract for 1997-98.

Petitioners cited “concern for the emotional well-being” of their children and wanted to see “positive reinforcement used.”

However, Savage received plenty of support from former and then-current team members, and Brewer school administrators, during the ordeal. Supporters argued the coach’s perfectionism was often mistaken for harshness; his energy and drive for arrogance.

In June, the Brewer School Committee, acting upon Snell’s recommendation, voted unanimously to award Savage the coaching job.

“It’s been a very trying couple of months. I’m glad it’s over,” Savage said at the time.

While the petition drive failed, it led to the formation of a committee that established procedures for evaluating coaches.

School administrators also asked the often-fiery Savage to make changes in his coaching style, but he never divulged the specifics of those requests.

Brewer is coming off one of its worst seasons in recent memory. The Witches went 2-16 this winter, their worst under Savage, failing to qualify for the Eastern Maine Class A Tournament.

Savage’s teams compiled a combined record of 95-113 (.457), earning five tourney berths. Brewer won the 1998 regional title in his first season.

Savage, a 1983 graduate of the University of Maine, played high school ball for coach Phil Faulkner at Katahdin High in Sherman Station, winning a Class C state championship in 1977.

Brewer now has two high-profile coaching positions available after the recent resignation of football coach Don Farnham. Kiah said Brewer will take its time to find the right candidates for both jobs.

“What we’re doing right now is waiting to see if there are any teaching openings to go with [the coaching positions],” Kiah said. “We’ll advertise the positions. We hope we’re going to get a good pool of candidates.”