White resigns as a Falcon boys' hoop coach

RUMFORD -- Earlier this month, Rick White resigned as boys' basketball coach at Mountain Valley and cited it was for personal and professional reasons.

White is weighing his options, regarding the future and the potential about coaching basketball elsewhere. ''I have been thinking about that for awhile now,'' said White. ''Then it was brought to my attention again that there were openings and asked if I was interested.''

White accepted a basketball job at another school last week. White coached the Falcons varsity for three seasons, compiling a 47-12 record and the junior varsity, 69-4 in four years, 88 percent winning percentage.

''I will miss the great bunch of seniors and underclassmen that I'm leaving behind,'' said White, who has gotten to care a great deal about each of them and will help the seniors with college recruitment, if asked. ''I'll miss working with Coach (Dave) Radcliffe, I feel that we worked well together and always put a quality team on the floor each night. In the varsity first season, MV went unbeaten in the Mountain Valley Conference, winning the conference championship. The Falcons featured a unique system; run and gun style, with wholesale substitutions, dominated opposition. The team won a Western Class B playoff game, but lost in the semifinals to eventual state champion Falmouth.

'' Lastly, I'll miss all the coaches that I have gotten to know,'' said White. ''I have been able meet and coach against some of the best coaches in the state in all classes.''

MV finished 16-3 and 11-8, having qualified for the post season.

'' I feel that we were very successful the past few years under my watch and I leave the program in great shape,'' said White. ''The returning group should do very well this year. I feel that our teams were very well respected throughout the league and state. Teams always knew we were going to play hard and be in most games. These players gave me and the program all they could. In return I gave them all that I could.''

White said he was able to coach a great bunch of kids over the past seven years and having players saying how much they enjoyed playing for White and Mountain Valley is very rewarding as a coach. This interaction was evident when the alumni and current players intermingled showed a great deal of respect for the program and what the Falcons stood for.

Time is of the essence in hiring a new coach because the first scheduled day of practice is November 11, with the regular season beginning December 10.

"We posted (the position) in-house (Oct.23)," said MV athletic director Al Cayer. RSU10 policy requires that districtwide employees have 10 days too apply. "If no application is submitted to me by then, we'll post it to the public.'' Cayer hopes to conduct interviews by Nov.5. There will be different intangibles that will be considered in the hiring of a new coach. ''Experience is not the only requirement for taking this position,''Cayer said. ''(Additional) qualities needed are a candidate that will create a cooperative, competitive and consistent atmosphere.''

White, who has served in the Rumford, SAD43 and RSU10 for over three decades, has the option of continuing coaching (assistant) football and girls lacrosse.

His resignation has no impact of his other coaching duties,''Cayer said. ''We have discussed other options for Rick to continue supporting MV basketball, but those are his decisions to make.''