LISBON — Chris Moreau admits that his employment record conveys a certain fear of commitment, to the untrained eye.
Four different Maine high schools have employed Moreau since this year’s Lisbon High School seniors graduated from eighth grade. Moreau played his share of professional hopscotch before that, too.
When faced with a dual opportunity that would allow a return both to his Mountain Valley Conference roots and to the athletic arena he so desperately missed, however, Moreau couldn’t turn away.
Moreau reported to his first day of work Monday as the new co-curricular coordinator at Lisbon High School and Sugg Middle School.
“Once a coach, always a coach,” said Moreau, a Jay High School and University of Maine at Farmington graduate with an extensive background in skiing, cross country, track and field, theater and drama.
He replaces Jeff Ramich, who was promoted to middle school principal this summer.
Moreau was preparing for his second year as assistant principal at South Portland High School when he heard about the Lisbon vacancy in mid-July.
“I wasn’t searching for a new job. I was all ready for another year at South Portland. But that was my first job that didn’t involve being an athletic director or coach in some form,” Moreau said. “Then this opened up and it took me about 30 seconds to realize what an opportunity it was.”
Lisbon’s coaching staff includes several of the longest tenured coaches in the tri-county area, namely Dick Mynahan (football), Mark Stevens (field hockey and wrestling), Hank Fuller (cross country) and Dean Hall (track and field).

Ramich served as AD for nine years.
“I’ve known Jeff pretty much all my life, so I knew a lot of the key (personnel) right off. There are a lot of great people here,” Moreau said. “I grew up playing in this Mountain Valley Conference. Jeff’s a peach. He has everything in the right perspective. Winning is nice, but other things are more important.”
Prior to South Portland, Moreau was AD at Scarborough in 2007-08 and Dexter in 2006-07.
“I hated to leave Dexter,” he said. “That job fit like a good pair of shoes. I love Class B and C, and I knew all along that I would end up working at this level again.”
Ramich ensured his successor a smooth transition, coordinating fall schedules and doing all the necessary legwork of the principal and AD jobs over the summer.
“I told him when he’s having to throw together a spring sports banquet to remember how easy he had it in the fall. He’s got it made,” Ramich joked.
Moreau coached skiing at Jay, taught at both the high school and middle school in Livermore Falls and was assistant principal and AD at Sumner High School in Sullivan.
His wife, Michelle, is a Monmouth native. The couple’s blended family includes five children, ages 4 to 17. They have relocated to Turner.
“My resume isn’t the most impressive in terms of staying in one place, but I look at this as a life opportunity,” Moreau said.

koakes@sunjournal.com