HOULTON, Maine — When Mike Carlos was not rehired as the girls basketball coach at Washburn District High School in March after leading the Beavers to their second straight Class D state championship, he exhibited no public anger — just a determination to coach the sport again.
The lingering controversy, he said then and again last weekend as the topic resurfaced while he guided the Houlton boys soccer team to its first state title, was merely wasted energy on the part of others.
“I get tired of people talking about it, I’ll be very honest with you,” said Carlos after Houlton’s 2-0 victory over Hall-Dale of Farmingdale in Saturday’s Class C state championship match held at Scarborough High School. “I’ve let it go, now if I could just get other people to let it go. I read MBR [a basketball website] like everybody else. Even [Friday] night they were talking about it still.
“Did I do anything wrong? No. Was it something internally where somebody wasn’t happy with me not doing something? Yes. Did I curse? No. Did I beat up a little girl? No. Did I do any of those things? No,” Carlos said. “It’s just politics, and I accept it.”
Carlos’ basketball coaching career has indeed moved on, back to the future in a sense as he recently was hired to guide the girls varsity squad at East Grand School in Danforth where he started his coaching career more than three decades ago.
“We’re glad to have him,” said East Grand assistant principal and athletic administrator Chris Young. “Everything I heard from people was that he hadn’t really done anything wrong, and between what he’s done with the Houlton soccer team winning the state championship and what he accomplished at Washburn, we feel pretty lucky having him coach our girls basketball team this year. It’s already started to create some excitement around here.”
While his former team will be favored to win a third straight Class D state crown this winter, Carlos is eager to rebuild an East Grand program that comes from one of the state’s smallest public high schools and finished 4-14 last season.
That rebuilding process begins with the mental side of the game.
“I asked the girls what they wanted to do, and they said they just want to win games,” said Carlos, who also is working as a long-term substitute teacher in physical education at the school. “I told them that’s not why I’m coming here. I’m coming here to win championships. And you’ve got to change your mindset.
“Now they’re trying to get that kind of mindset, and hopefully I can help change the mindset of the girls. It’s important that they they think about winning something big and not just a game or two,” Carlos said.
Such a win-oriented approach may have been part of the rub at Washburn. While no one there would speak publicly for the reasons behind Carlos’ dismissal, superintendent of schools Ed Buckley issued a statement at the time that said in part, “we do not measure the success of our athletic teams by the number of contests they win but whether it is a positive experience for all our students.”
Carlos admits he’s a tough coach but insists his style is a positive approach designed to bring the best out of his players.
It is an approach that has enabled the self-described “hired gun” to lead three teams in two different sports from two different communities to state championships in the last two years alone.
“People hear me yell and hear me scream instead of listening to the things that I say to people,” said Carlos, who has lived in Houlton since 1974 and whose coaching resume also includes stops at the University of Maine at Presque Isle and Hodgdon High School.
“If people would take time and listen to what I’m saying they’d hear all the positive things that are really coming out of my mouth.”
Carlos hopes the recent successes of East Grand’s softball and girls’ soccer teams will bolster the girls’ basketball mindset at the school. The Vikings’ softball squad have qualified for postseason play each of the last three years, reaching the Eastern D semifinals last spring and finishing with a 13-3 record after earning the top seed in the final Heal point rankings.
The girls’ soccer team advanced to the preliminary round of the Eastern D playoffs this fall.
And with approximately 60 students in grades 9-12 at the school, many of the Vikings’ athletes play all three sports.
“I’m excited,” said Carlos. “I think there’s some talent there.”
Someone’s kid musn’t have played enough. I feel bad for high school coaches in small town Maine. Not only do you have to win, but you also have to try to keep the parents of the “superstars” happy. It really is a no win situation, and eventually it is time to move on. Good luck Coach Carlos!
Unfortunately it isn’t just small town and it isn’t just Maine.
It is crazy parents trying to relive high school through their kids’ sports.
I have known Carlos since he worked at Grossman’s in Houlton. He is a very determined, respectful person. He will do great at Danforth and they are lucky to have him as their coach.
Coach Carlos is great. His good deeds last a lifetime. His Cuban temper, while intense at times, is easily forgetable and harmless almost all the time.
WIsh you the best of luck coach Carlos. You did Nothing wrong, and it is commendable that you take tlhe high road give the hatchet job done on you in Washburn.. Take East Grand to the states and win it big.
Probably the best coach I’ve ever had. Shame what they did to him in Washburn. Their loss is East Grand’s gain.
Washburn’s loss is East Grand’s gain!
He will always be one of my favorite coaches and that was 20 years ago. You helped me become a better person today, Coach. Thank you .
I wish you nothing but the best.
You were the greatest coach I ever had. Best of luck to you Coach Carlos – those kids are lucky to have you!!
Anyone from Washburn want to have some sort of input? Seems like past players are on here saying very positive things. I would like to hear from Washburn players/parents. If no one responds I think maybe it was a few stars didn’t want to be yelled at.
Sounds like your correct!! Some kids Parents. Geeez!! Whine a little more.
While I agree with Coach Carlos about wanting people to finally let this go, I also agree with the Administrations decision to not rehire him back. It had nothing to do with someone’s kid not getting playing time. The things that happened were things that were said to kids behind closed doors! And it wasn’t to all the girls. He was very good to SOME of them. So I totally understand why those girls and parents would love him and that’s totally fine by me. But just because those that didn’t care for him or things he said or did aren’t out there on every public forum, whether it be Facebook, MBR or BDN badmouthing him and saying what he did that they didn’t like…..DOESN’T mean it didn’t happen. Why is it ok for Carlos to “take the high road” but it isn’t ok for those “haters” to take the high road. The yelling during the games wasn’t the issue, even though I didn’t think it was productive, that isn’t the reason for him not returning. So for everyone’s sake, just let a dead horse lie! Seriously people, the rumors and induendos have gone on for WAY to long!! I am NOT going to get on any public site and list off the things that he did…..no one is……we are taking the high road!! This is an amazing group of girls(lovers and haters alike) let’s just MOVE ON!!!
To bad he didn’t tell those kids and all the parents off also. If this is what he did? Boohoo. It’s a team sport. They won!!!!! States!!!! Attitude does not belong. Probably was the case. Good Luck Mike!!!!!!!!!!
I am also glad that he isn’t back after his temper tantrum at the awards banquet. That is when he showed everyone what others had been talking about. To everyone that thinks Washburn made a mistake and have their own opinions remember you are only told what Carlos and his buddies want you to hear. The only people taking the “high road” here is the Administration and parents for not getting into the mud slinging that people want.
Sounds like racism.
A lot of parents in the county are way too damn involved. When I played in HS I had two of the toughest coaches the state of Maine has ever known, coach Lucy and coach Gavett. They were tough on us but that brought out the very best in us. We were very successful every year and our parents stayed the hell out of politics and made it so we had to deal with our own personal stresses, and sometimes incredible torment.
I do not see the logic in parents being so interloping. If you read about great Amercians, none of them had parents who got so emotionally involved with their childs emotional and political status as a young adult. Let kids work it out and stop using your mouth as a part time job parents.
But in this day and age aren’t “buddy” coaches who don’t yell and scream better? LOL
The politics in our children’s sports have and will continue and it’s going to hurt many as it goes on. There is no need for it and if parents could just let these children play and these school systems would pick the right fit and not allow politics to play such a role on all of it. WE as parents and administrators are allowing this to happen and are taking out the fun for all of the kids involved. It’s a sad sight to see. I run a REC program and I see it as each season ends and a new one begins. The last thing people look as is what is right in front of them and that is the kids having fun without all the hullabaloo that the adults do to make it more difficult. They don’t ask for it, they just wan to play!
There have been some pretty tight lips in the Washburn community surrounding this. That was right up until they hired the new coach. The story I got was that 3 players’ parents had written a complaint to the administration that one of those players was called out in front of her teammates and had her feelings hurt. Each teammates was allowed to speak their mind and air their concerns about whether or not the young ladies actions and effort were conduscive to winning. Evidently it didn’t go so well for the girl. I know of the girl so I cannot speculate except to say she is just average in terms of basketball.
Two of the three letters were signed. The anonymous letter came from the girl in questions parents. Again it was a story I got from now 2 different sources who were also parents of players on the team. I don’t really care about any of that drama but will say that I look only what has been lost and what has been gained.
Lost;
Integrity of administration, a chance to learn a life lesson for the player of team above self and a chance to keep a quality coach who knows how to win.
Gain;
More speculative rumors, a fresh perspective for all parties and an ulcer for any future coach who EVEN thinks about coaching in Washburn.
He was too hard on the Beavers.
Actually, when you consider the skills of the Houlton soccer team, it’s absolutely mind-boggling that he could produce a state championship team at Houlton and beat Madawaska.
You all know what they say about opinions right?? Most of you commenting here really don’t know the issues. It is too bad you couldn’t find something more constuctive to do with your time. Unlike most of you commenting I was there and you were not… I just want you all to know something for a fact. This group of girls won everything they were ever involved with long before they met Mr. Carlos.