KENNEBUNK — There is going to be a new face on the bench for the Kennebunk High School boys basketball team next season.

Last week, the school district hired David Leal to be the new head coach of the program. It all started by a simple conversation with the athletic director and then the opportunity presented itself for Leal after that.

“I saw the athletic director and said, ‘I just moved to town. Is there any way I could help with the program?’ Then, I sat in front of an eleven-person committee and got the job,” said Leal.

Now that Leal will be representing the Rams on the sideline this winter, he is wasting no time getting his new roster ready for the season — and Leal sees a lot of potential with this group.

“I’m excited. I walked into a really good situation. Most of the players are returning from last year’s team. I believe we have quite a bit of depth,” said Leal, who will most likely lean on players like Cam Lovejoy, Tripp Bush, Zack Sullivan, Kyle Pasieniuk and Max Murray.

Leal has been a high school coach in the past. He coached at Gloucester High and Rockport High in Massachusetts and York and Berwick Academy in Maine. The new Kennebunk coach said he took the last several years off to watch his three sons play in high school and college basketball, but now he is ready to get back on the sideline.

“I have probably coached at this level between JV and varsity for about 12 years,” said Leal. “I’m a basketball fanatic. My kids are all out of college, and then the opportunity came.”
With all the returning talent, Leal has a plan for what kind of style he wants to instill in this group.

“I want to play a real high tempo — really push the ball down the court. I’ve got depth. I can do that,” explained Leal.

In addition to this season, Leal is excited for the future of his new program, too. There is a lot of promise in the youth basketball leagues that he has observed throughout the early parts of this summer.

“For a program as a whole, I have been around the summer programs. The numbers are remarkable so there are players at every level,” said Leal.

There is an expectation that the Rams will garner a lot interest in trying out for the team, come this winter and Leal is happy that will be the case.

“It’s a good problem to have because nowadays kid got a lot of other things to do. I’ve notice numbers have been down in sports, but their numbers look good now and for the future,” said Leal.

After some time off, Leal is happy to get back into coaching because it is something he loves to do.

“Its almost more exciting being a coach because it is nice to see kids achieve,” said Leal.

— Sports Writer Brandon Eckles can be reached at [email protected] or at 282-1535 ext. 323. Follow the Journal Tribune Sports Department on Twitter @JournalTsports.