For 20 years, Carroll Smith was a coaching mainstay, first at Washington Academy of East Machias and then at Greenville.

And after stints as the athletic director and assistant principal at Greenville and Penobscot Valley of Howland, Smith is back on the bench for the Lakers’ girls team.

Smith is one of several new girls basketball coaches who will debut with their teams tonight, when the basketball season opens for Classes B, C and D. Class A begins its regular season next Friday night.

Ice hockey, wrestling, swimming, diving, indoor track and field, gymnastics, skiing and cheerleading also open this weekend in all classes.

Other new girls coaches include Glenn Libby at Jonesport-Beals, former UMaine pitching standout Michael LeBlanc at Forest Hills of Jackman, Mike Portwine at Schenck of East Millinocket and Hodgdon’s Dennis Guy.

Smith is a new face for the Greenville girls, but he skippered the boys at his alma mater for 11 years through the 1980s and early 1990s. He coached varsity baseball and softball at Washington Academy after he graduated from the University of Maine-Machias in 1973.

Smith is definitely facing a challenge taking over at Greenville. The Lakers went 0-16 last season and are young – of 13 players, he has seven freshmen and no seniors. He’ll look to juniors Justine Lavigne and Miranda Baron for leadership. But Smith said he’s looking forward to the start of the season.

“I **love** to coach and they are willing to learn,” he said. “It’s a very, very enthusiastic team and a very, very coachable team. I’m excited about it.”

Smith replaces Donna Blackstone, whom he said is pregnant.

Libby replaces Blaine Steeves, who coached the Royals to a Class D state championship in 1996, the regional title in 1998 and runner-up honors in 1999. Jonesport-Beals AD Diane Clark said Steeves resigned before school ended last season because he “decided he didn’t want to coach anymore.”

Guy has coached basketball at middle school and junior varsity level in Houlton. He takes over for the venerable Phil Faulkner after Faulkner resigned to take the boys basketball post at Southern Aroostook of Dyer Brook.

“We were looking for a quality applicant that would enhance the academics and athletics,” Hodgdon athletic director Marty Bouchard said. “Dennis arose from the rest of the candidates.”

LeBlanc already coaches the varsity baseball team at Forest Hills. He takes over for Robyn Griffin, who led the Tigers to a Class D state championship in 1997. Portwine was hired in place of Jay Brown, who is now the athletic director at Ellsworth.