With 13 postseason appearances and one Eastern Maine championship since 2010, Orono boys soccer was a consistent player under head coach Waldo Caballero, who retired last October.
His assistant, Dave Hamel, who is entering his third year on the Red Riots’ coaching staff, was hired to take the reins this spring. With nine returning starters and a longstanding tradition of winning, Hamel doesn’t foresee Orono’s reputation changing anytime soon.
Orono boys soccer coach Dave Hamel (Courtesy of Dave Hamel)
“Waldo had a tremendous wealth of knowledge, and Orono has always had good soccer players,” Hamel said. “I’m going to take what’s already there and make it my own.”
A Bangor native and UMaine-Presque Isle Hall of Fame striker, Hamel was previously a boys assistant coach for the Rams from 1998-2000, a head boys coach at Hermon from 2001-04, and a head girls coach at Brewer from 2014-22.
Under his philosophy of accountability and possession-based soccer, the Hawks and Witches never missed the playoffs.
“I learned from my coaches at Bangor to [preach] discipline, holding myself and my players accountable,” Hamel said. “I see myself as a defensive-oriented coach, and the kids always get credit for victories.”
Brewer compiled a record of 3-51-2 in three seasons prior to Hamel’s hire, but finished 7-5-2 his first year as coach. Hamel hopes to recreate this feat with the Riots, who failed to miss the playoffs in 2022 and went 4-8-2 in 2023.
Fueling Hamel’s optimism is his familiarity with the team and community as a whole, considering he is entering his ninth year as a history teacher at Orono High School.
“Last year wasn’t a year to make a run, we were young. This year and next year are,” Hamel said. “Orono’s a great place to coach soccer — we have Class A opportunities and play Class C competition. I want to bring a gold ball to Orono.”
