The Houlton High School/Greater Houlton Christian Academy girls basketball team is looking for a coach.
Ken Ervin resigned last Friday afternoon due to “personal reasons,” according to Houlton athletic director Evan Clark.
Ervin was in his second season coaching the team.
Ervin declined to comment on the situation.
Boys head coach Travis Gentle is coaching both teams for the time being, Clark said.
“I have some interviews lined up and we’re hoping to have a new coach before Christmas,” said Clark.
Last season, Ervin led the Shires to a 7-11 regular season record in Class B North which earned them the 11th seed for the tournament. They were eliminated in the preliminary round by sixth seed Mount Desert Island 52-29.
The Shires are off to a rough start this season, going 0-4 including an 0-3 record under Ervin with lopsided losses to Hermon (53-14), Caribou (60-19) and Presque Isle (59-14).
Gentle was on the bench on Saturday when they lost to Washington Academy of East Machias, 58-17.
Each team has two games remaining before Christmas and Gentle will be able to be on the bench for both because his boys play at Presque Isle on Wednesday and the girls don’t play again until Thursday when they entertain rival Hodgdon.
Both teams will travel to Bangor on Saturday for games against John Bapst with the boys game tipping off at 1:30 p.m. and the girls game to follow at 3 p.m.
Houlton/GHCA was coached by Clyde Warman two years ago and he led the Shires to a 9-9 regular season record and a pair of tournament wins before losing to Old Town in the semifinals.
Warman had replaced Shawn Graham, who spent 18 years coaching the Shires and compiled a 254-98 record. Houlton won four consecutive regional titles (2015-18) and state championships in Class C in 2015 and in B the following year.
The current team has only 10 players and does not have a jayvee team.
“Five former varsity players didn’t come out for the team for a variety of reasons. Some were injury-related,” said Clark.
“There is a lot of pride in the program and we’re going to keep fighting and keep working hard,” Clark said.
He feels confident they will be able to land a quality coach.
“We have plenty of support,” said Clark.
