TOPSHAM

Mt. Ararat High School athletic director Todd Sampson recently announced the hiring of new boys and girls varsity basketball coaches.

Steve Cox takes over the Eagle boys after former coach Aaron Watson departed to become the athletic director at Gray-New Gloucester High School, while Andy Morris replaces Kelly LaFountain as the girls coach.

Steve Cox

Cox played basketball at Camden Hills before attending the University of Southern Maine, where he played for another two seasons before transferring to the University of Maine, graduating in 1991. Prior to last year’s stint on Watson’s staff as the boys freshman coach, he coached throughout the Topsham Parks and Recreation Department’s youth basketball and baseball programs.

“I am excited to be given the opportunity to lead this program,” said Cox. “I enjoyed being on Aaron’s staff. I really wanted to come in and keep many of the great things that he brought to this program. There will be some things that change, but there is not going to be an overhaul.”

Cox feels last year’s Eagles “always overachieved and played at a high level. They rarely got beat by a team that outworked them. That is my mantra — work harder than your opponent and make sure that you have good people playing the game of basketball.”

Cox feels the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference will be a continuing challenge.

“The KVAC is quite intimidating,” said Cox, who is a father of highschoolers Cam and Katelyn and is married to Brooke Cox, who recently completed her first year at the helm of the Mt. Ararat softball team. “Last year in Class A basketball, on any given night any of the top 10 teams could have beaten anybody. But, I am up for the challenge. We want to play harder and leave everything on the floor each night.”

Cox inherits one of the top players in the KVAC in junior Shyheim Ulrickson.

“Shyheim is a special talent, and the goal is to make sure I’m getting him in the right positions to succeed,” said Cox, who is the director of engineering for the Maine Water Company based in Saco. “For me, it is about taking the engine and tuning it with a different mechanic. Shyheim is a majority of that engine.”

During the summer, Cox hopes to get his team moving in a positive direction.

“I want them to stay athletic in the summer,” said the coach. “I want them to get stronger, quicker. If that means they are doing something else to make them a better athlete, I am good with that.”

Andy Morris

Longtime Mt. Ararat coach Morris once was the head coach of the Eagles’ varsity boys team, decided to step down and volunteer to help then-incoming coach Watson. He stayed with Watson for seven more years.

Now, Morris takes over the girls, replacing LaFountain, who decided to step down to spend more time watching her son Alex play.

“I heard that Kelly was thinking of stepping down back in December, so I thought it was the right timing for me,” said Morris, who has spent 32 years coaching at Mt. Ararat. “I have coached many of these girls through the AAU basketball program and on the middle school team at Mt. Ararat, and I have gotten to know these athletes and their parents. Even as a new coach, they know my expectations and know my demeanor.”

Morris and wife Linda have been married for 36 years and have two grown children, Sara and James. He teaches at Mt. Ararat Middle School and attended college at St. Joseph’s College in Standish.

The Eagles struggled in LaFountain’s final season, going 3-15. The team was beset with injuries after beginning the year looking to replace four starters after a big hit from graduation.

However, Morris feels the experience gained from last year will help the Eagles in the coming seasons.

“There were four freshmen who saw plenty of playing time last year, and this season they will be sophomores along with two returning players that will now by juniors,” said Morris. “Kelly didn’t leave the cupboard bare. I will have nine returning players, including four starters.”

Morris has expectations for his team.

“I want to set the bar high,” said the coach. “We want to get to the Augusta Civic Center for the playoffs. Everyone wants to win the ‘Gold Ball.” So, we are going to first shoot to win Eastern A. But, when setting a goal that high, you can’t wish it and dream of it. You have to put in the hard work. So, right now we are evaluating.

“I am very excited for the opportunity and I just love these kids. Our goal is to get the best out of each of them every day. We will play a lot of kids, and I envision going 10-deep, covering the entire floor.”

Matt Reid

Freeport has a new boys varsity basketball coach in 28-year-old Matt Reid.

The Cape Elizabeth High School and University of Southern Maine graduate has spent the past seven years coaching at his high school alma mater. After two seasons as the Cape Elizabeth Middle School coach, Reid moved up the jayvee team.

“I was at a point where I was ready to take that step from the jayvee level to coaching varsity,” said Reid, who resides in Portland and is an admission counselor at USM. “I wasn’t going to just put my application out everywhere. I wanted it to feel right, and I had gotten to know and respect (Freeport AD) Craig Sickels and (assistant coach) Terry Jewett. It was a situation that I wanted to get my materials in. It has been an exciting experience so far.”

The Falcons have struggled the past six seasons under former coaches Matt Cox and Nick Jewett, going a combined 17-91 and missing the playoffs each year. Reid is trying to not look too far ahead, knowing that he needs to build his program in order to find success.

“For me, it can be very hard to not look big picture, but right now we can’t,” said Reid, who has a masters degree in English. “Everyone wants to make a run in the tournament, get into state game and play for the ‘Gold Ball.’ Right now, I am asking the players if they want to do what it takes to get there. Everything is a competition. From the drills, you start smaller and learn how to compete with each other there. We need to carry that mentality along.

“In a lot of ways, winning cures a lot of ills. There will be things that are different, a learning curve for these guys. Right now, they may not see it in the wins column. Summer is for us to get to know each other and grow for a month-and-ahalf. The goal is to hit the ground running in November.”

At Cape Elizabeth, Reid, a 2004 graduate, was a three-year starter at point guard. The Capers advanced to two regional championship games, falling to Gorham both times. In golf, he was part of a state championship winning team, and helped his tennis team to two state titles. He feels his youthful enthusiasm will help in the early going with his Falcons.

“Right off the bat, the players see the energy that I bring,” said Reid. “My age and the charisma that I have has helped, and they seem to be responding well with the drills we are doing in summer basketball. They want someone to push them. We have expectations, and when they are not met, there are consequences. I am just trying to stay straight-forward and consistent. Basketball is the best example of a team game.”

Reid is familiar with the Western Maine Conference, and knows there will be challenges as his team grows.

“I remember being a kid and watching some of those great athletes and teams in this conference,” said Reid. “Nobody is going to give us anything. We are going to have to earn it. It will force us to bring our ‘A’ game every single night. If we can improve, and we get some more wins, the satisfaction will be that we certainly earned it.”