BANGOR, Maine — Jim Bessey was asked several years ago if he’d be interested in running for a seat in the Maine House of Representatives.
Already retired from his career as a teacher at Mt. Blue High School in Farmington, Bessey still coached the school’s boys varsity basketball team, which played the bulk of its schedule each winter while the Legislature was in its regular session.
Bessey sought out as much advice as he could gather about the feasibility of effectively managing both legislative duties and a Class A basketball program at the same time.
“I’d think it would be tough,” surmised Bessey, who retired from his coaching post earlier this year after guiding teams from Mt. Blue and neighboring Madison to a 475-293 record over 40 seasons. “I had been approached at one time about running for the Legislature six or eight years ago, but in speaking with people about it, including some legislators, the decision we made was that it would be difficult to do both.”
Longtime Bangor High School coach Roger Reed faced a similar set of circumstances in recent months.
He already had decided to retire from a 47-year teaching career this spring, but Reed sought to continue coaching the Bangor boys varsity basketball team while also seeking to win the House District 23 seat that serves residents of Carmel, Etna, Hermon and Stetson.
Reed won the Republican primary for that seat earlier this week, one day after he reluctantly resigned his coaching post — marking the end of a career during which he compiled a 571-201 record at Bangor Christian and Bangor high schools while leading Bangor High School to eight Class A state championships.
The 73-year-old Carmel resident stepped away from those coaching duties after being asked by school officials to make a choice between the Bangor basketball job and his potential political career, which awaits a run against Democrat Richard Thomas of Hermon in the Nov. 6 general election.
While Reed said he was urged by several legislators and others familiar with the political process to run and told he could handle both jobs at the same time, Bangor High School principal Paul Butler, a former player under Reed at the school, determined that based on his own research into the matter sharing Reed with his potential legislative duties wasn’t a workable option for the school.
Butler urged his former coach to commit 100 percent to the basketball program.
“I understand where they’re coming from,” said Penquis Valley of Milo boys basketball coach and athletic administrator Tony Hamlin. “Obviously Roger will be campaigning hard between now and November, and if he is elected from January to May it will require some attention to detail from him down [in Augusta].
“I can see both sides, because I’m sure Roger from his perspective wanted to go out on his own terms. But what you’ve got to remember is that coaching is just a one-year position. There’s no tenure, no guarantees, you serve at the pleasure of the superintendent. That’s just the way it is.”
The high school basketball season begins with preseason practices that start just before Thanksgiving, with the regular-season schedule running from early December to mid-February. That’s followed by the regional and state tournaments that conclude at the end of February or in early March.
The Maine Legislature’s regular session runs largely from early January to mid- to late spring, with the full Legislature scheduled to convene several weekday mornings each week followed by committee meetings and work sessions during the remainder of the day.
“There isn’t a consistency to the schedule, and the jeopardy is that you wouldn’t necessarily know when the committee meetings would end,” said Chandler Woodcock, a high school coach for 19 years who led the Mt. Blue girls basketball team to back-to-back Class A state championships in 1999 and 2000 before stepping down and then serving three terms in the state Senate.
A 2006 gubernatorial candidate and now commissioner of the state’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Woodcock added that one of the more time-consuming aspects of a legislator’s job is beyond the scope of the schedule of activities in Augusta, but meeting with constituents within the legislator’s district — a responsibility he said may involve as many as six days or nights a week.
“I was pretty cognizant that it would be complicated to be involved in both coaching and the Legislature at the same time,” said Woodcock. “Of course it can be done, anything can be done, but the question is whether it’s something that’s practical to attempt.”
Coaches at most schools are required to attend all practices and games, as well as travel with players on the team bus to and from all road games, which in Bangor’s case are as nearby as neighboring Brewer and Hampden and as far away as South Paris and Brunswick — making for some long nights on the road.
“If you’re going to miss practice that wouldn’t be right, and if you’re not going to be there to ride with your team to a game on the bus, that wouldn’t be right, either,” said longtime high school and college basketball coach Bob Brown, who retired this spring from his most recent post at Cheverus High School of Portland.
In addition, school officials, particularly at larger programs such as Bangor, must account for multiple varsity and subvarsity boys and girls teams during the winter sports season when scheduling the gymnasium for after-school practice or game time, leaving most reluctant to make concessions for individual interests at the expense of the rest of their coaching staff and student-athletes.
But Brown is among those who suggest that given the organizational success of Bangor’s basketball program under Reed’s leadership he should have been allowed the opportunity to attempt this dual challenge.
“Everybody’s taken a stand, but at times you have to look at the situation and say he’s been a coach and a leader for as long as he’s been there and done everything the right way, and he’s telling you he can do this,” Brown said. “Well then, we’ll give you that chance this year, and if it works, fine, but if it doesn’t work, that’s it.
“I do know that Roger is a man of honor and would not do anything to hurt his kids. I personally don’t think you can do both, but after all he has given to Bangor, if he tells them he can do both he should be given that chance.”
This is the first I’ve heard that he has peers!!
Why not headline the article this way “Bob Brown says Reed should be given that chance.”
And as far as Mr. Butler wanting Coach to commit 100%, that’s a little deceiving, as in, – what
percentage of 100% is lost when a coach is also teaching a full load – preparing, correcting, testing, etc.
Marriage takes time, raising children takes time, and most legislators also have other legitimate interests going on as well.
Sure it’s a challenge, so is life, but let’s not present the word “challenge” as a condemnation of
Coach’s decision to serve in the legislature. He’s shown how he handles challenges.
keep him as a coach we dont need any more right wing conservatives in maine
As stated before, if anyone can do both it is Roger Reed. Seems that serving at “the pleasure of the superintendent” is not within everyone’s reach. Is it political within the school district, is it age discrimination, or is it simply that someone else has expressed a desire to be Bangor High’s varsity basketball coach since the way was paved clear in late November for Roger to do both?
Only those in “high places” know the answer!
Come on Ernie …I have seen coaches who have the capacity to do four jobs successfully and others who couldn’t organize a program with the help of Jack Welch. After 27 years and a huge winning percentage it is safe to say Coach Reed doesn’t need to attend a Nike Clinic for affirmation on practice organization, offense concepts, defensive system or bringing the best in players. With all due respect to the a fore mentioned coaches then can not effectively speak to the efforts Coach Reed would exercise in maintaining excellence in both venues. BTW to balance the perspective is tomorrow’s story from two Principals and Superintendents of how administrators can misuse their power and hurt loyal professionals?
What is really sad is that young men and families have had this program ripped out of their lives.
Roger Reed is a victim of those who don’t appreciate his solid political views. A shame that conservatives can’t be more respected. Many of us wish him only the best in the legislature. He’ll quickly become a leader.
Paul Butler probably did Roger a favor… suspect now he will pour himself into his election undistracted, win it walking away and once elected be an exceptional State Rep for those western suburbs. He personifies excellence… Augusta could use a little of that now!
Funny how we ask “peers” who have no experience themselves in the legislature instead of those who are. Seems to me I heard Emily Cain, the Maine House Majority Leader speak yesterday that Bangor’s decision was a bad one and Reed could have done both.
How the hell would she know? The “Flame Thrower in Chief” . . . If anything, her angle is to encourage him to go for it, so some 19 year old from WABI can stick a microphone in her face, just to then tear Coach Reed down in a public forum! Is there anyone more divisive in this entire state than this woman? Classic liberal hypocrite!
Regardless of what Mr. Butler though, or even Mr. Reed’s peer coaches, I believe he should have been given the chance to at least try. I dont believe this shows the people of Bangor any loyalty at all and a complete lack of respect for the great job that Mr. Reed has done over the years. Mr. Butler should be ashamed of himself, though i would doubt he will be. It seems Bangor High School is famous for looking the other way…Just take a walk down the hallways in between classes and you will see that happen every day.
Jeffcol you are so right! Butler ashamed of himself? Now that is rich. He thrives on this kind of crap.
BHS blew it and they will stand tall and arrogant as they always do even when they have egg on their face because they are the untouchable God in Bangor. Reed, trying to do something positive in a State that needs all the positive and decent people it can get in its government and BHS smacks him in the face for it. Don’t you think the powers at BHS should have at least agreed that Reed is smart enough to try both and then let him decide if it was too much? Did they really think he would let the program he built suffer and let the kids down? C’mon BHS its not Butlers / Webb’s authority, its about doing the honorable and decent thing. Drop your egos and show some common courtesy.
Brown hit the nail on the head – he should have been given the chance based on his outstanding record. That said, the part where he said ” if it doesn’t work, that’s it” is probably correct.
Coach Brown gets it right. And, whether Roger could or couldn’t do both is so not the point.
So now that we have had our moments of initial reaction to this poor decision let’s look at the aftermath of this act; a high trust culture Nickerson, Vanidestine, Reed, Hackett, Nelson that illuminated the importance of personal responsibility, competence, credibility and productivity has been severely damaged. Webb/Butler have violated public trust. Low trust causes friction, whether it is caused by unethical behavior or ethical but incompetent behavior (good intention never take the place of bad judgment). Like the air we breathe we too often take the critical intangible of trust for granted. Trust is the glue that bonds people, processes and environments…it ensures long-term success. If this critical component is missing, erosion is inevitable. After you turn off the projector, quit PowerPoint and end your pitch, the ability to get a deal done or grow in high level organizations requires the synergistic glue of trust. Coach Reed’s legacy will be one ethical character, transparent motivation and superb competence in producing sustained, superior results. If I was a member of the Bangor School Board it would behoove me to see these actions in light of Henry David Thoreau’s teachings’ “for every thousand people hacking at the leaves of evil, there is one striking at the roots.” Do we wish to prevent disease or merely treat it? I encourage you to not be blinded by the rhetoric of Webb/Butler to justify but courageously do what is best for the Bangor community, Bangor High School and ultimately the young people. Low trust is the greatest costs to organizations. Trust produces results. Results builds brand loyalty. Results inspire and fire up a winning culture. There is more at stake in the coming days then someone’s professional ego. Can our leaders please step to the podium to oppose the injustice to our Coach, program, school and community? Coach Roger Reed is not alone on this ballot…Public trust is at the top of the ticket.