Steph Biberstein, who guided the Hermon High School softball team to the State Class B championship in 2010 and is now the assistant principal at the school, is returning to coach the softball team.
Jody Thebege, who had coached the Hawks the past three seasons, didn’t have his contract renewed. Hermon athletic director Rick Sinclair would not disclose the reason for the change but he said he is elated to have Biberstein guiding the team.
“Steph checks off a lot of boxes,” he said, adding that Biberstein was one of four people interested in the job. “We’re really fortunate she wanted to do it.”
Biberstein coached the Hawks from 2003-2013 but took the 2007 and 2008 seasons off to give birth to her second son, Jacob. Steph and husband Will also have an older son Nicholas. Megan McCrum, Biberstein’s former assistant, took over for Biberstein in 2014 and led the Hawks to another state title that year and a Class B North title in 2015.
“It feels awesome,” Biberstein said. “I’m excited. I’m looking forward to it. We’re going to hit the ground running.”
Her sons are now a junior and a freshman at Bangor High School. They play football and hockey and are involved in the Junior ROTC program. She said the fact their sons are older now and won’t be playing a spring sport made it a “perfect time” to get back into coaching.
Biberstein left coaching to become the school’s athletic director and then she moved on to becoming the assistant principal in 2017.
One of her first and most important objectives was to put together a top-notch coaching staff and she is ecstatic about the pair of father-daughter tandems working with her. Duane Graves and Aaron Oakes are going to be her pitching coaches and daughters Shannon Graves and Breanne Oakes will be the hitting instructors. Ashley Bourdon will be the JV coach.
“My philosophy is to surround yourself with great assistant coaches who can complement you and your skills,” said Biberstein, who will work with the infielders. “This is a great staff.”
She said she has been touched by the number of her former players who have reached out and offered to help. Biberstein had 35 players sign up for tryouts which get under way on March 21, representing a “great” turnout.
“We’re going to have fun. That’s my focus. I want them to enjoy themselves,” she said.