Eighteen years ago, Jim Frost coached the Brewer Witches to the brink of an Eastern Maine Class A basketball championship.

Now he hopes his youngest son will get a chance to experience the same kind of memorable tournament magic he enjoyed as the Frost family returns to Brewer.

Jim Frost, who taught English and coached Brewer boys varsity basketball from 1981 to 1986, returns to Brewer High as the school’s new principal and successor to Jerry Goss, who retired after 15 years on the job.

And although current Brewer boys varsity hoop coach Mark Reed is happy to have a man like Frost returning to the school, he’s even more thrilled about having his son Andy accompany him as he’s currently one of the better guards in Eastern Maine.

“I think it’ll be a great situation for me,” said Andy Frost, who has been playing on Brewer’s summer league entry. “I’m still getting used to [Reed’s] system. It’s quite different from Class C. You’re a lot more focused on defensive intensity than offense. I hope it makes me a better player.”

Frost, who will be a junior, helped lead the Calais Blue Devils to the brink of their first state boys basketball title as they came one point short in the state final. Last year, Frost was a key member of a Calais team that finished as Eastern Maine Class C runnerup.

“I hope it’s going to be a good fit for Andy. He’ll be going up against some pretty good players every night in Class A and the challenges for him will be adjusting to that and getting to know our system,” said Reed. “He’s a player with a lot of physical gifts and I think he’ll make us better.”

Frost admitted that he was already taking a longing look at Brewer High even before his father applied for the principal’s job.

“I really wanted to get to another school even before this all came up because I kind of wanted to play Class A ball. Brewer was my first choice because I knew coach Reed from the summer program,” Frost explained.

Frost admitted there were other factors contributing to his desire for a scenery change.

“There’s a lot of stuff going on around here that I’m not really into,” said the 16-year-old Frost, referring to an ongoing problem with drugs in the Calais area. “Yeah, very much so. I was concerned about it. I knew some acquaintances who had gotten mixed up in them and even though my friends were on the same path I am, most of them are going away as well.”

Many of Frost’s closest friends graduated earlier this summer and last year as well. Andy’s older brother James Jr. graduated last summer. His older sister Katie is heading to the University of Southern Maine this fall.

Andy’s mother Lori teaches physical education in the Calais school system.

“Lori’s a great teacher, so she should be able to find something, but she has a job here, so she might not be coming up for a year or so because of that,” said Jim Frost. “We’re looking at a house and we have a potential buyer. We’ll likely be moved in someplace in or near Brewer by the end of summer.”

Frost said he plans to play both soccer and basketball at Brewer. Although he’s played baseball in past spring seasons, he’ll likely concentrate on AAU basketball next spring.

“I’m looking forward to a change in the environment and the night-in, night-out competition you get in Class A athletics, both in soccer and basketball,” said Frost, who already knows several of Brewer’s current basketball players like Jon Bell, Isaac Bell, Travis Stewart, and Matt Sargent.

NIAAA recognizes local ADs

The National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators has recognized three local athletic directors – Bucksport’s Patricia Frazier, Narraguagus of Harrington’s Tracie Martin, and Dave Heald of Presque Isle – as certified athletic administrators.

All three had to demonstrate a high level of knowledge and expertise in the field of athletic administration. The certification process involves a thorough evaluation of candidates’ educational background, experience, professional contributions, and a comprehensive written examination.

“I’m now the PVC president now so I felt it was important to go through the process,” said Frazier. “It also added some recognition to my athletic directors’ title and helps the state gain more recognition as well.”

Frazier said Maine ranked 13th among the 50 states for the total number of administrators now certified, but she thinks it may now be as high as 11th.

Andrew Neff can be reached at 990-8205, 1-800-310-8600, or ANeff@bangordailynews.net