Coaching high school basketball isn’t for everyone.

External pressures abound, only to be exceeded in most cases by the internal pressure within the coach to succeed.

But for Ryan Deschenes, any potential negatives are drowned out by the possibilities that come with the job – the chance to stay connected with an athletic passion, and the chance to share that passion with the next generation.

And at age 22, that next generation isn’t far behind Deschenes, an East Millinocket native and former Schenck High star who is the first-year boys varsity coach at St. Dominic of Auburn.

“I think coaching at a young age helps me,” he said, “because the kids know you were there playing recently and did what they’re doing now, and you can obviously still show them things.

“Sometimes it takes a little talking here and there, because there’s a strict line between being buddies with them and being their coach. You can kid around, joke around, but there’s that fine line you need to have to be successful.”

Deschenes was an all-Penobscot Valley Conference forward as a senior playing under Charlie Giberson at Schenck, and was named a McDonald’s East-West Senior all-star.

After graduating from Schenck in 2003, he went to Saint Joseph’s College in Standish where he played for the Monks as a freshman.

But as his playing career ended after that season, his thoughts soon turned to another side of the sport – thoughts that actually had crossed his mind much earlier.

“In high school I definitely knew I wanted to coach,” said Deschenes. “I always felt like a coach on the floor, and always had a passion for the game.”

His introduction to coaching came last year, when Deschenes guided the freshman boys’ team at St. Dom’s. And when the varsity post opened up after the 2005-06 season, he applied – and got the job.

“I didn’t know when it would happen, and I didn’t know it would be this soon. It’s a pleasant surprise,” said Deschenes, who has one more semester of studies to complete at Saint Joseph’s. “But I’m confident in my ability to teach the kids to my best potential and get them ready and prepared.

“I love organizing events, organizing practices. I consider myself pretty organized and prepared, especially for a young guy. It’s pretty fun, and the players respect me and want to play for me, and that’s a key thing.”

Deschenes’ challenge is to bring basketball success to a school known more for its Class A hockey program. St. Dominic is a Western Maine Class C school in basketball, and the Saints went 8-10 a year ago before losing to Waynflete of Portland in the preliminary round of the playoffs.

St. Dom’s has made just three trips to the quarterfinals at the Augusta Civic Center in school history, with just one tournament victory.

“Traditionally we haven’t been there, but that’s what we’re trying to change,” said Deschenes, whose team opens its season at home Friday night against North Yarmouth Academy. “We’re trying to create tradition, trying to make annual trips to Augusta. The key is starting a tradition. That’s our goal.

“It’s tough, but if you have a good program and you’re enthused as a coach and you try to get people involved, you can turn the corner and people will look at it and say ‘they have a pretty good basketball program there, too.’ ”

Cilley to guide alma mater

Troy Cilley has found a new coaching home at his alma mater.

Cilley, who guided the boys basketball team at East Grand of Danforth for seven of the last eight years, has taken the same post at Woodland High School.

The Princeton resident, a 1990 Woodland graduate, replaces Dave Seavey, who coached the Dragons to an 11-8 record and a berth in last year’s Eastern Maine Class D preliminary round, where they lost to Lee Academy.

Cilley compiled a 102-39 record during seven seasons at East Grand. His teams went 93-30 during a six-year stint between 1999 and 2004, making five tournament appearances and winning the 2001 Eastern Maine Class D championship.

After a one-year hiatus, Cilley returned to the East Grand bench last winter, and led the Vikings to a 9-10 record and a berth in the Eastern D preliminary round, where they lost to Schenck of East Millinocket.

Bangor favored in preseason poll

The Bangor High School boys basketball team has been selected as the preseason favorite to win the 2006-07 Eastern Maine Class A championship, according to a poll of Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class A coaches.

The Rams, who return several key players from last year’s team that lost an overtime decision to eventual EM champion Hampden Academy in the regional quarterfinals, totaled 111 points in the poll, compared to 95 for second-place Gardiner, which will be led by University of Maine-bound forward Sean McNally.

Edward Little of Auburn, which features UM-bound forward Troy Barnies, edged Brunswick for third place in the poll, followed by Mt. Blue of Farmington.

Messalonskee of Oakland, Lawrence of Fairfield and Cony of Augusta rounded out the top eight teams in the rankings.

The Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference includes all of the teams currently playing in Eastern Maine Class A.

Ernie Clark may be reached at 990-8045, 1-800-310-8600 or eclark@bangordailynews.net