Taylor named Bangor High hockey coach

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Ted Taylor, who assisted Dan Kerluke with the Bangor High School hockey team the past three years, has been named to succeed Kerluke.

Kerluke left to become a volunteer assistant at the University of Maine, his alma mater, after compiling a 43-20-1 record in his three seasons behind the Rams bench. This past season, Kerluke led the Rams to their first appearance in an Eastern Maine Class A championship game in their 22-year history.

“It’s a big challenge, but I’m definitely looking forward to it,” said the 46-year-old Taylor, who teaches earth science at Bangor High and coached the Ram JVs all three years. “Dan was a good coach and I learned a lot from him, especially about the technical side of the game. He’s a great resource to have.”

Taylor had coached in the Bangor youth hockey system for seven years before joining Kerluke’s staff.

“It’s a big jump from youth hockey to high school, and if I hadn’t had the time that I had with Dan, I wouldn’t feel ready. But I definitely feel ready now, especially after having three years with the JVs,” said Taylor.

“We were very interested in Ted’s ability to continue what Dan built. He’s very familiar with the systems. He believes in education first and he’s very positive. We’re certainly pleased. He’s a good fix for our situation right now,” said Bangor High athletic director Steve Vanidestine.

Kerluke endorsed Taylor for the job.

“It’s a great move,” said Kerluke. “He’s a good coach. He can continue the foundation I kind of helped to build there. I’m very excited to see what happens this year at Bangor High.”

Kerluke said Taylor was anxious to learn the intricacies of the game and that he has a “great rapport” with the players.

“There will be a learning curve for him. It’s going to be something new. There will be growing pains along the way, but in the end, he’ll be a great coach for that program,” said Kerluke.

The Rams lost several key players off last year’s school record-setting 18-win (18-5) team, including the state’s leading scorer, Nick Payson (43 goals, 28 assists); goalie Aaron Buzzell, a finalist for the Travis Roy Award given to the state’s top senior player; center T.J. Vanidestine, and defenseman Jason Eremita.

“We have holes to fill, but the guys will be up for it. They’ll be ready to step up,” said Taylor.

McLean gets Jonesport-Beals post

JONESPORT – Vincent MacLean Jr., who played under Ordman Alley during his days as a student at Jonesport-Beals High School, will replace his former mentor as the Royals’ boys varsity basketball coach.

MacLean was approved for the position Thursday night during a meeting of the local school board, according to superintendent of schools and principal Colleen Haskell.

MacLean moves to the boys post after two years as Jonesport-Beals’ girls varsity coach. Before that, the Addison resident spent six years as boys varsity coach at Narraguagus of Harrington, where he guided the Knights to the 1997 Eastern Maine Class C championship.

MacLean is a 1983 graduate of Jonesport-Beals, where he played guard under Alley. In his senior year, the Royals won the Class D state championship, defeating Oak Grove-Coburn of Vassalboro 76-68 in the final.

MacLean inherits a veteran Jonesport-Beals boys squad that went 11-7 during the 2004-05 regular season, won the Downeast Athletic Conference championship and defeated Hodgdon in the preliminary round of the Eastern Maine Class D playoffs before losing to Lee Academy 60-43 in a regional quarterfinal at the Bangor Auditorium.

That ultimately marked the final game of Alley’s 39-year coaching tenure, three years at Beals High School and the final 36 at Jonesport-Beals after the schools in those two communities merged. During his career, Alley posted more than 550 victories while guiding Jonesport-Beals to nine state championships – including five straight from 1970 to 1974 – and 13 Eastern Maine titles.

The 63-year-old Alley announced his retirement from coaching in September.

Replacing MacLean as girls varsity coach at Jonesport-Beals will be Adam Merchant, who has spent the last several years coaching girls basketball at Beals Elementary School, according to Haskell.

Donato gains Mount View job

Former Messalonskee of Oakland girls basketball coach John Donato has landed another job.

Donato, who resigned from Messalonskee this summer, will coach the Mount View of Thorndike girls.

His hiring was made official at an Oct. 11 school board meeting.

“I feel fortunate to get someone his of caliber, I really do,” said Tom Lynch, an assistant principal at Mount View who is serving as the school’s athletic director.

Donato was a three-time KVAC Coach of the Year and posted a 129-51 record in nine years at Messalonskee. The Eagles went 16-5 last winter and made it to the Eastern Maine Class A semifinals.

But Donato has said he received an evaluation from Messalonskee officials questioning the low numbers in his program, so he resigned in June.

Donato had a lot of success coaching Houlton’s girls varsity basketball team from 1977 to 1995. He won 261 games with the Shiretowners, including four Class B state championships and nine regional titles. Donato also skippered Houlton’s golf and baseball teams, and coached the Hall-Dale of Farmingdale girls basketball team for a season.

Donato teaches science and coaches varsity golf at Lawrence High in Fairfield.

Donato replaces Eileen Ellis, who resigned this summer. The Mustangs were 16-38 in Ellis’ three years as the head coach.

Three starters return to the team this year, Lynch said.

Lynch and Donato share a bit of Eastern Maine basketball history. Lynch was a referee during the 1986 Eastern Maine Class B final that featured Allen Downer’s Mount View squad against Donato’s Shiretowners. The start of the game was delayed because the roof of the Bangor Auditorium started to leak. Houlton won that game, and went on to its second straight state title.

Later that night, the Dexter boys outlasted Rockland in the famous five overtime game.

“It was just an unbelievable night,” Lynch recalled. “We didn’t get out of there until after midnight.”

Nemer takes Ashland girls basketball job

Ashland has a new girls basketball coach, and the name shouldn’t be a surprise – after all, it’s the same man who most recently served as an assistant coach but led the Hornets to a state title in 1991.

Bill Nemer, who was an assistant to Ben Lothrop for the past three years, will return for his second go-round with the Ashland girls this winter.

Nemer takes over for Lothrop, who resigned the position when he was named the school’s athletic administrator.

Nemer was approved at a school board meeting Monday night.

“When I knew I was going to have to give up the coaching, there was no question about who I wanted to recommend,” Lothrop said.

Nemer first skippered the Hornets from 1986-96, guiding them to a 16-2 regular season record in 1991 and a 52-50 win over Monmouth in the Class D state championship game.

Ashland qualified for the tournament nine of his 11 seasons.

The Hornets have a chance to go far again in the coming season. Ashland was the Eastern Maine Class D runner-up last year, and returns four of five starters, including centers Angela Belskis and Melinda Chasse, forward Whitney Flint, and guard Ashley Nemer, who is Bill Nemer’s daughter.

“I’m very excited for him,” Lothrop said. “I know it’s a big thing for him to be able to coach his daughter in her senior year.”

Nemer also coaches girls soccer at Ashland. The No. 4 Hornets will host No. 5 Van Buren in a quarterfinal Friday.

He has also coached both softball and baseball in the past.

Meanwhile, Lothrop said Ashland has opened up its boys basketball position. Dave DeMerchant served as the varsity coach last year.

Lothrop declined to comment on whether he had recommended DeMerchant again this winter, but said he is welcome to apply for the job.

“The position has been reopened and we’ll take applications until Oct. 31 or until we find a suitable candidate,” Lothrop said.