Goodwin, Baude hired to coach Orono squads

Orono High School has promoted from within to fill its boys and girls varsity basketball coaching vacancies.

Ben Goodwin, the boys junior varsity coach last winter, has been elevated to replace Randy Lee, who left after one season to become men’s basketball coach at the University of Maine at Machias.

Tim Baude, Orono’s girls freshman coach for the past four seasons, will move up to the varsity level to replace Steve Gardner, who stepped down after 21 seasons to take a job as the principal of a K-8 school in Sedona, Ariz.

“We’re very pleased to be able to get both Ben and Tim,” said Orono athletic director Mike Archer. “It should be a smooth transition for both of them because of their familiarity with the program.”

Goodwin, in fact, ran the Orono boys summer program this year.

“It was a tremendous help,” said the 27-year-old Goodwin, an Eddington native. “Some of the kids had already played for me last winter, but for the older kids it was a chance for them to get a feel for how I coached, and for me to get to know them better.”

A teacher at the Airline Community School in Aurora, Goodwin played collegiately at the College of St. Rose in Albany, N.Y., where he was a team captain for two years. During his junior year, he helped the Golden Knights reach the NCAA Division II Final Four. While as a freshman and senior, St. Rose reached the Elite Eight.

“Ben was a finalist for the varsity job when Randy got it, so I think we’re very fortunate to be able to get him this time,” Archer said. “He has a good playing background from when he was at St. Rose, and the thing I like about him is his energy and intensity. He’s got a great rapport with the kids; they really respect him.”

Orono finished 11-9 last season. The Red Riots were seeded eighth in Eastern Maine Class B and defeated Hermon in a preliminary round game before being defeated in overtime by top-ranked Camden Hills in the regional quarterfinals.

“I’m really excited about this,” said Goodwin. “We’ve got some talented kids, and Orono’s got a good tradition. I’m looking forward to continuing that and hopefully improving on it.”

Baude, 36, faces the challenge of replacing Gardner, who compiled a 252-158 record at Orono and led the team to 15 postseason appearances and state Class B championships in 1996 and 1998.

“It’s a great opportunity,”‘ Baude said. “Being in the program for four years, most of the girls already have played for me, and I was also fortunate to have the opportunity to learn a lot from Steve.”

The Orono girls varsity finished 8-10 last winter, and Baude hopes the seven veterans who will return to the lineup this season will propel the Red Riots back into the tournament hunt.

“We’ve been down the last couple of years, but I see a lot of brightness in the future,” said Baude. “We’ll look to be up-tempo. We’ll push the ball when we can, and try to use some speed I see coming up through the system.”

Baude is well aware of the players coming up through the Orono system. He has been the town’s assistant athletic director for the past eight years, focusing on youth programs in the community.

“It gives us a tremendous advantage with regard to Orono athletics with Tim having the opportunity to interact with so many kids at a young age through the rec department,” Archer said “He gives us stability and credibility.”