RUMFORD — Rick White saw an opportunity at a school with which he’s been associated for 26 years, and he went after it.

White is the new head boys’ varsity basketball coach at Mountain Valley High School, replacing Dave Gerrish, who resigned in March after four years.

His familiarity with the Falcons made White a logical candidate.

“Having learned so much from Dave Gerrish, I felt that I had a greater knowledge of the game,” White said. “I felt that I knew a lot about basketball but having coached with Dave I have a greater understanding of the game now than I did four years ago. Dave and I had a long conversation about the program and we both felt I was ready to make the jump up to the varsity position.”

Mountain Valley athletic director John Bernard offered White the position
last week and his appointment is subject to approval by the new
school board next month. White will be the sixth coach in the program’s history, following Mark Karter, Matt Kaubris, Jamie Robinson and Ryan Casey.

White had been the Falcon’s junior varsity basketball coach for four years and is well-versed in the former and current student-athletes who played in the program. He has run the summer basketball camp for several years and has also been the head coach of the girls’ lacrosse team since its inception in 1990.

“In talking with Rick after he told me about his being selected by John Bernard, something that he said really stuck with me,” Matt Kaubris said. “Rick said, ‘I may not be the most knowledgeable basketball coach ever, but if I do not know the answer, I do know where to go to get the information.’ If Rick maintains this attitude and approach to the game, he should do just fine.”

Mountain Valley qualified for the playoffs each year under Gerrish. The Falcons won the 2006 Western Class B regional and 2007 state title. Mountain Valley also won state crowns under Karter and Kaubris in 1990 and 1994, respectfully.

Whites coaching philosophy is to be up-tempo and play hard-nosed team defense and offense.

“We will focus on a whole team concept,” White said. “Every player will know their role and how it plays into the whole scheme of the offense and defense we are playing. We will play a number of offenses and defenses based on the players that we have.”

White has a well-rounded background, having played football in college and serving in the Army in Military Intelligence. After 15 years working in the paper mill, he enrolled in the University of Maine at Farmington, majoring in Community Health Education, with a Teaching Concentration.

“One thing that I enjoy about teaching and coaching is the growth that I see in the student/athlete from the beginning of the year until the end of
the year and season,” White said. “I love teaching them life-long lessons that they can use for the rest of their lives. I have a great deal of respect for
the student/athletes in this community and they respect me as well.”

“Rick is a hard working, knowledgeable coach,” Mountain Valley football coach Jim Aylward said. “(He) has certainly proven his dedication to Mountain Valley sports.”

White started coaching football in Rumford in 1983 with Bob Marchildon as a defensive coordinator and has been an assistant football coach since the merger between Rumford and Mexico in 1989.