BANGOR, Maine — Alan Mosca initially was disappointed after learning that his job as head football coach at Bangor High School would be opened up to other potential candidates.
But upon further review, he’s come to terms with that decision and has opted not to pursue a fourth year as the Rams’ on-field leader.
“Truthfully, as the week has gone on and I’ve had more of a chance to sit back and take a deep breath, I’m wicked relieved,” said Mosca, who guided his alma mater to a 3-23 record in three seasons. “Record-wise it wasn’t good, there’s no lying about it, but I can hold my head high because I gave everything I had.
“I did everything in my power to be successful and it just wasn’t working.”
Mosca told his players that he wouldn’t be back as head coach during a team meeting Wednesday afternoon.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as head coach. I can’t thank the administration and my coaches enough,” he said. “But the group I want to thank most is the players. We have great kids who work hard and have tremendous pride. They’re awesome.”
The 45-year-old Mosca, who began coaching football at Bangor High School while a college sophomore at the University of Maine and has been with the program continuously since 2002, replaced the retired Mark Hackett as head coach in April 2015.
That coincided with the second year of the current four-class system for high school football in Maine. That change from three classes shifted Bangor from playing against fellow Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference schools to a schedule full of lengthy bus rides to face Portland-area schools from the Southwestern Maine Activities Association as well as Edward Little of Auburn, Lewiston and Oxford Hills of South Paris from the KVAC in the reconfigured Class A North.
It also came during a downturn in Bangor’s fortunes at the developmental levels, something Mosca has worked to address while leading an effort this year to jumpstart the city’s youth football efforts.
“Coach Mosca has been and will continue to be a lifelong Bangor Ram,” said Bangor High School athletic administrator Steve Vanidestine. “He will continue to be a solid contributor to our football program and our whole operation. His loyalty, passion and enthusiasm is appreciated and I hold him in the highest regard for his commitment to the student-athletes of Bangor High School.
“His effort in what he did for me and for this program was outstanding,” Vanidestine added. “He did everything we asked of him and I have every intention of having him involved in the program as we go forward in both football and track.”
Mosca, a physical education teacher in the Bangor School Department, will remain head coach of indoor track and field at the high school.
“I’m young and I love to coach,” he said. “Coaching’s who I am. I’m going to devote more time to track and get involved with the summer program. Anything the school needs from me I look forward to do.”
Vanidestine plans to post the varsity football opening in the coming days with hopes of finding Mosca’s replacement before the end of the year.
“The head coach we hire needs to be an established (varsity) head coach,” he said.
While the Bangor High School football team has taken its lumps recently, finishing 0-8 at the varsity level each of the last two seasons and having to abandon its junior varsity schedule early this fall due to a lack of players, Mosca and Vanidestine see hopeful signs within the program for team’s next head coach.
Several younger high school players, particularly along the line of scrimmage, gained valuable experience this fall and are poised to be key members of the upcoming varsity squads.
The city’s eighth-grade football team went undefeated this season and is 22-2 over the last three years, Vanidestine added.
And participation at the youth levels has been reinvigorated with the rebranding of the program as Bangor Junior Rams Football and its full move to Cameron Stadium, home of the high school teams.
“We feel confident that help is on the way,” said Vanidestine. “What we need to do now is take a look at all the kids that are here at the high school and get as many kids out as should be out, so we’ll bring in a new coach and see if we can turn that around. “
