The former star at Winthrop returns to the sidelines to lead the Hornets girls’ basketball team.

The license plate says HOOPFAM. It isn’t a vanity plate per se, but one that is aptly descriptive.

It’s an abbreviation for hoop family, and that’s just what Tammy Anderson and her family have become.

When the Leavitt girls’ basketball job opened up, Anderson, the former Winthrop and USM standout, thought the time might be right to jump back into the high school coaching. She had to make sure the rest of her family was up to the task first, however. It meant some sacrifices and long nights at the basketball gym, but basketball is a way of life for the Anderson’s.

“They were all willing and my husband (Mark) was very supportive,” said Anderson. “Now the family is old enough that I think we can handle it.”

So the stage was set for Anderson to become the next Hornets coach. Anderson was confirmed recently and has already been buzzing with activity preparing for the summer season. She meets with the team and parents next week.

“I’m real excited,” she said. “I have a definite passion for basketball.”

Anderson replaces Chris Cifelli, who stepped down after five seasons. The team went 15-70 during that time as the program struggled to adjust to Class A competition.

The former Tammy Anair played for Winthrop in the early 1980s, reaching the Western C final twice. She went on to a fine career as the Huskies point guard. After college she wasted little time getting into coaching. She coached at Maranacook for two years in the late 1980s.

She left that post to focus on her family. She’s been tempted to get back into coaching at the high school level but not with three young kids.

“I was just waiting for my kids to get old enough and if there was an opening, I’d try for it,” she said.

Her two daughters are now 10 and nine. Her son is seven. With the Leavitt job opening up, it was the perfect opportunity. Anderson lives in Greene and she teaches sixth grade at the Greene Central School. She’s been the Director of Basketball in the Greene Youth Athletic Association and has coached a number of travel teams as well her her son’s team. In a few seasons, her own daughters will be coming up through the program.

“I have a pretty high interest in the program right now,” said Anderson, whose been with the same group of girls on her travel team in recent years and looks forward to seeing them reach the high school level. “I’ve stayed with the same girls since kindergarten. I’m very excited about that.”

Leavitt only graduates three seniors from last year’s club. There’s a good young nucleus, and Anderson has seen the interest at the youth levels. She knows it’s a sizable leap to coaching a Class A program in the KVAC.

“I know a lot of the kids at the high school,” she said. “I think there’s a lot of potential there. It looks like a pretty good situation to step into. It looks like a challenge, but I like challenges. I think the program is up-and-coming, and that’s a great place to come into.”

Livermore Falls is also getting closer to filling its coaching vacancy. Three candidates are being interviewed this week. The Andies are looking to replace Ken Jones, who resigned after four seasons.

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