After three tries at getting a teaching job in the Skowhegan school system, Paul True has decided it’s time for him to move on – and that means giving up one of the top girls basketball coaching positions in the state.

True, who last winter led the Indians to their first regional final appearance since 1979, resigned at the end of July and will take over the girls basketball post at Lake Region of Naples.

“It was a very complicated and difficult decision,” said True, who coached the Skowhegan girls to six Eastern Maine Class A tournament appearances in his seven years.

“There were a lot of different factors,” he added. “If it was only about basketball there wouldn’t be a question. … I loved those kids as if they were my own daughters. I feel very, very good about leaving the program [in its current shape]. They’re going to be strong for the next two years at least. I feel very good about that.”

True said his position as the school’s health coordinator was funded by a grant from Fund for a Healthy Maine, the money for which is part of Maine’s share of the national tobacco settlement. The funding for True’s position ran out this year.

Meanwhile, True said, he had applied for full-time teaching jobs several times over the years but had been turned down each time. When he didn’t get the elementary physical education job he applied for this year, he decided to try for a job elsewhere.

“It was very frustrating,” he said. “I felt like it was time to go.”

True, a Fryeburg native and graduate of Fryeburg Academy who still has connections in that area, was asked to apply for the job at Lake Region. He landed a job focusing on employee wellness at Hancock Lumber, which is owned by the Hancock family.

Matt Hancock, a former Colby College standout who coached the Lake Region girls from 1996 to 2000, and his brother Kevin, both played for Lake Region.

“It was made very clear to me that they want me to run a basketball program,” he said. “My schedule will be very flexible as far as things like summer programs, practices and games.”

The Lakers went 14-4 in Western Maine Class B last year. They gained the No. 4 seed for the tournament but lost to No. 5 Yarmouth 52-40 in a quarterfinal.

True met with the team recently and feels he can work with the Lakers.

“I look at it as the same situation as when I started with the Skowhegan girls,” he said. “There are a lot of good athletes and I want to teach them a lot of basketball. They seem really excited and they responded to what we were doing.”

Whoever steps into the Skowhegan job – possibilities include two current coaches of other teams and the father of a former player – will have a well-rounded, athletic and young but experienced team with which to work.

Among the returning players are junior guard Nicole Paradis and sophomore guard Bethany Sevey, who both were named to the Eastern Maine Class A all-tournament team. Junior forward Kayla Thompson was an honorable mention.

Sevey tied a Class A record with 10 3-pointers in the tournament.

The Indians lost to Cony of Augusta 51-44 in the Eastern A final.

“It’s a special group of kids,” True said. “Part of me will always bleed orange and black.”

True, who also coached the Madison boys for one season, passed the 100-win mark last year. His regular-season record at Skowhegan was 89-37, including a 17-1 run in 2002 during which the Indians beat rival Cony.

He has served as an assistant boys coach at Gorham and Skowhegan and played basketball at UMaine-Farmington.

True is the son of Harry True, a former headmaster at Fryeburg and Maine Central Institute in Pittsfield and longtime high school coach.

Daigle earns Wisdom job

Wisdom High of St. Agatha has a new boys soccer coach. Tom Daigle, a 1985 Wisdom graduate, has taken over the position.

It’s the first varsity coaching position for Daigle, who replaces Jeff Michaud.

“The kids enjoy working with him and he’s enjoying the kids so far,” athletic director Mim Gagnon said.

Both Daigle and Michaud work at Fraser Papers Inc. but Daigle’s schedule with the company was flexible enough to accommodate coaching.

Gagnon said she’s hoping Daigle can help turn around a program that has struggled recently. The Pioneers were 1-13 last year.

“There are some good up-and-coming young ones in the middle school program,” said Gagnon, who coaches the Wisdom girls soccer team. “I’m thinking we can turn things around in the next three years. That’s my goal, anyway.”

Wisdom doesn’t have a replacement yet for its vacant girls basketball position. Gagnon said the school ran advertisements last spring but hasn’t had any applicants yet.

“It’s getting harder and harder to find good people,” she said. “If they’re not in the [school] system it’s hard for them to get time off for practices and games.”

Coach Tracie Hobbs resigned after last season to spend more time with her family.

Jessica Bloch can be reached at 990-8193, 1-800-310-8600 or jbloch@bangordailynews.net.