Brad Paradis knew he wanted to be a schoolboy basketball coach even while he was still a high school player.

By age 19, he was the boys freshman coach at his alma mater, Old Town High School. Now, after seven years in that capacity, Paradis is the Indians’ new varsity coach.

“By my senior year of high school, I knew I wanted to do this,” said the 26-year-old Paradis, who was named to the job last week by the Old Town school board. “I was volunteering at the ‘Y’ back then, and even before I started coaching the freshman team I was coaching a travel team at the ‘Y.'”

The 1996 OTHS graduate still works at the Old Town-Orono YMCA and as a substitute teacher in the Old Town school system. He is also is pursuing a history degree at the University of Maine.

Much of his basketball education has come from his former varsity coach and predecessor at Old Town, Marty Clark, who stepped down earlier this year after a stellar 16-year tenure of guiding the Indians.

“The biggest thing I picked up from coach Clark was work ethic,” said Paradis. “He instilled that in me when I was a player, and that’s been a big part of the program and one reason Old Town always overachieved while he was there. He expected a lot from his players, and I hope to keep the work ethic here strong.”

Paradis’ biggest initial challenge will be to rebuild a team that graduates all five starters from the 2003-04 squad that reached the Eastern Maine Class A preliminary round.

“We’re going to be very, very young because we lose seven or eight seniors,” he said.

Paradis expects to carry on a style of basketball similar to Clark’s that seeks to emphasize up-tempo play, though he will adapt that style to the strengths of his players.

Building camaraderie will be another point of emphasis.

“Team chemistry is a huge part of having success,” he said.

Shapiro takes Hampden AD post

Hampden Academy will have a new athletic director for the 2004-05 school year.

David A. Shapiro, currently director of student activities at Wells High School, was approved as Hampden’s new AD during a recent meeting of the SAD 22 board of directors.

Shapiro, who is expected to begin his duties in June, also will hold the title of assistant principal, though most of his responsibilities will involve the school’s athletics program, according to SAD 22 superintendent of schools Rick Lyons.

Shapiro will replace Tom Winston, who is leaving Hampden Academy after the current school year to pursue a position in educational administration.