The former assistant will oversee Leavitt’s boys’ varsity basketball team.
By Randy Whitehouse
Staff Writer

TURNER – While other schools are still desperately trying to fill long-vacant coaching positions, Leavitt High School had the luxury of staying in-house to select its new varsity boys’ basketball coach.

Mike Remillard, the junior varsity coach and an assistant to former varsity head coach Brett Hoogterp for the last three years, has been named Hoogterp’s successor.

Hoogterp resigned to move to Ellsworth after five years coaching the Hornets.

Remmillard was recommended over two other finalists interviewed by an ad hoc search committee and received school board approval last week. “He’s got an aggressive personality and hopefully that will rub off on the kids,” Leavitt atheletic director Doug Conn said.

“I think he’s got a passion for the game,” he added. “He’s energetic and I think he understands what it takes to make the program successful.”

Remillard, a graduate of Lewiston High School and Thomas College, has worked his way up through the coaching ranks since he was a high school junior, coaching youth and travel teams before joining the Leavitt school system to coach at Tripp Middle School.

In fact, Remilllard, 31, thinks it will be to his and the Hornets’ advantage that he has coached many of his players since middle school.

“The two seniors I have, I’ve had them since the eighth grade,” Remillard said. “I feel the transition should be pretty seamless. We’re going to stay with a lot of the same stuff Brett was running.”

Where Hornets’ fans will notice the biggest difference, he hopes, is in the team’s defensive intensity.

“My intent is to bring much more of a defensive mindset and juice up that side of the ball,” he said. “It’s always been a point of emphasis for me, but especially in the KVAC, if you’re going to have any success, you are going to have to stop people from scoring.”

The Hornets had some trouble shutting down opponents last year, but also boasted one of the league’s most prolific offenses on their way to an 8-11 record while earning the bottom seed in the Eastern A tournament. They were knocked out in the first round.

All but two regulars graduated from that team. Senior Jake Witham and junior Nate Cousineau, a KVAC all-rookie selection last year, will be joined by a number of new additions who helped Remillard’s JV squad post a successful 13-5 campaign last season.

“It’s going to depend upon how those kids adjust to the varsity level,” Remillard said. “They’re a really relaxed group, and I try not to put kids in a situation they can’t handle. If they’re not ready for pressure situations, they’re not going to be there.”

Remillard’s hiring leaves two local varsity boys’ coaching positions still to be filled, at Jay and Winthrop. Officials at both schools reported no progress in finding replacements.