Jeff Ingalls, who guided the Bangor girls soccer team to 141 victories in 12 seasons, has been named to the same position at Hampden Academy.

Ingalls, who wasn’t rehired at Bangor after the position opened up following the 2004 season, was approved for the Hampden post at the April 2 school board meeting.

“We are thrilled to have coach Ingalls at the helm,” said HA athletic administrator David Shapiro, who added that four other candidates were also interviewed.

Ingalls replaces Dewey Martin, who in December was told by Shapiro he would not be rehired. Martin’s teams won 72 percent of their games in five seasons, going 11-4-1 last fall.

Ingalls’ impressive credentials – he compiled a 141-38-11 record with the Rams, including a trip to the 2003 Eastern Maine Class A final – along with his familiarity with the Broncos’ program were key factors in his hiring.

“One of the great things is that he’s familiar with the level of competition that we have,” said Shapiro. “He was clearly the best one for the job.”

Ingalls, who taught physical education for 30 years in the Hermon and Bangor school systems, is champing at the bit not only to get back into coaching but to guide a program that has a rich girls soccer tradition.

“I’m excited. I’m thrilled, actually,” said Ingalls. “I didn’t really want to leave coaching.”

With the situation at Bangor behind him, Ingalls, who said he has coached more than 90 sports teams, is ready for a fresh start with the Broncos.

“That’s behind me, it took me a while to get over it. It was just one of those things,” he said.

Ingalls has no regrets about his time at Bangor.

“I had some really nice players at Bangor, had a great AD at Bangor,” he said. “Steve [Vanidestine], he’s a really integral part of that school, a terrific guy.”

Ingalls inherits a Hampden team that reached the EM Class A semifinals last fall before falling to eventual regional champion Waterville.

While the Stearns of Millinocket alumnus has yet to meet some of the players the Broncos will field next season, he promises they will be athletically sound and aggressive offensively.

“My kids will be in shape. We’re going to go for it, we’ll create the best passing game we can,” he said. “Defensively, I haven’t decided yet because I haven’t seen the kids.”

rmclaughlin@bangordailynews.net

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