Richmond girls soccer coach Troy Kendrick celebrates with his players after the Bobcats blanked Vinalhaven 10-0 on Oct. 7, 2022 to give Kendrick his 400th career victory. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

The winningest girls soccer coach in Maine high school history is retiring.

Troy Kendrick, 60, said Tuesday it is time to step away. Kendrick won 414 games, the most by any coach exclusively in girls soccer. He won 11 state titles, the most in girls soccer, and 17 regional championships in 34 seasons.

Ashland girls soccer coach Peter Belskis has 456 career wins, but 250 came as the school’s boys coach.

“The last couple of years, it’s been on my mind, when would be a good time to step away,” said Kendrick said. “My daughter (Caitlin) graduated in 2019. That would have been 30 years (then), I think a lot of people thought I would have been done (after her graduation). It was hard, and it’s been hard, because it’s been such a part of my whole adult life… At some point it’s like, ‘When’s it enough?’ I know it’s going to be a culture shock, especially when next fall rolls around. It’s going to be hard. But I just felt like it was time.”

It’s the second time in three years Kendrick has retired. He stepped down in 2021 after accepting a job as principal at Marcia Buker Elementary School in Richmond. However, he decided after two weeks on the job that he wanted to continue his career as an educator and coach.

Kendrick became the Richmond girls soccer head coach in 1989 after several years as an assistant.

“I know (Kendrick) has been dancing around (retiring) for a couple of years now,” said Richmond Athletic Director Jon Spear, who is accepting applications for the girls soccer coaching job. “I’ve always told him that whenever he decides it’s time, I’m going to support him 100%. He’s put in decades and decades in this program, he means so much to our soccer programs. I’d absolutely hate to lose him.

“It’ll be extremely weird (not having him coach in the fall), but I know he’s going to be on the sideline cheering along, so it’ll be good.”

Kendrick posted a winning record in all but one season of his career. Last fall, the Bobcats finished 8-6-0. He went 66-22 in postseason play.

Richmond baseball coach Ryan Gardner also was an assistant girls soccer coach for 19 seasons. Gardner said Kendrick had incredible soccer knowledge.

“Nobody knows Xs and Os like Troy,” Gardner said. “He gave everything to his program. He loved coaching girls soccer. It was just a pleasure to work with him. We had a lot of fun. Won a lot of state championships, too.”

Kendrick and the Bobcats twice won three consecutive Class D titles, first from 1992-94 and then again from 2010-2012. The Bobcats went 47-1-2 during the latter streak.

“Troy was an incredible great coach to play for, he was always very positive,” said Danica Hurley, a forward on the 2010-2012 teams. “We all enjoyed going to practice. As teammates, we all really loved each other, too. Troy played a huge role in that by being a positive influence and a positive leader for all of us. I don’t think you would find a single player that played for him that would have a bad word to say.”

Hurley added that one of Kendrick’s top seasons came in 2009, when the Bobcats made the playoffs despite having a thin roster.

Richmond girls soccer coach Troy Kendrick address his players Aug. 15, 2011 during the defending Class D champions’ first day of practice.

“I think that speaks to Troy and his success,” Hurley said. “We had a season like that (in 2009), and he inspired us all to work really hard, while not even really having enough players, basically. Spending time in the offseason, the next summer, for them to come in the next (fall) and be successful the next three seasons in a row.”

Kendrick cited the program’s first Class D title, in 1992, as well as its most recent, in 2017, as two of his most satisfying moments on the sideline.

Kendrick added that he still plans to attend some of the girls soccer games in the fall. He is also considering becoming a youth soccer official. Mostly, he plans to spend more time with his wife, Kim, daughter Caitlin and son Nate.

“The relationships were the most fun (aspect of the job),” Kendrick said. “Just getting to know and having close relationships with my players. And (relationships with) opposing coaches, too. I’ve got friends all over the state. I’ve got friends now up in Van Buren, Madawaska, Ashland, Greenville.

“I told my wife this, I think I enjoyed the practices more than the games. We obviously worked hard, but there was always time to shoot the breeze, have conversations, joke around. I’ve been very fortunate to work with a lot of quality student athletes over the years. It’s just very precious to me, those memories and those relationships with those kids.”