Gavin Kane has coached at Dirigo, Rangeley, Spruce Mountain, and the University of Maine. But his alma mater was always on his radar.

“I have, for a number of years, been interested in coaching at Mt. Blue,” Kane said. “Unfortunately, when either the boys or girls position opened up in the past, the timing hasn’t been right in terms of full-time employment.”

Kane (Mt. Blue class of 1978) was officially named the girls basketball coach at Mt. Blue last week, and one thing he’s looking forward to is coaching his two daughters. Caitlin is a junior and Chelsea is a sophomore.

“I think both of my kids are pretty excited to have their dad coaching,” Kane said. “Other than helping Chuck Wallace coach the softball team two years ago, I really have not coached my kids.”

With his coaching commitments in the past, Kane said he was unable to see most of his daughters’ basketball games.

“It’s been very difficult to miss a lot of their games,” he said. “I missed almost everything they did during my two-year stint at the University of Maine. And during the last couple years, I’ve been able to see maybe six games out of their schedule.”

Kane did like what he saw of the Mt. Blue team from those games. The Cougars, who graduated standout Miranda Nicely and two other starters, finished 9-11 last season, losing a close game to No. 1 Edward Little in the quarterfinals.

“There’s a pretty solid nucleus of players coming back,” Kane said. “It’s an intelligent group of kids that’s returning, and a group of kids that will work very hard.”

Kane, 54, enters this winter with more than 500 career victories.

“At times, I begin to wonder if I’m winding down my coaching career,” he said. “It’s quite possible this could be my last stop. But I’m still not in any great rush to finish. I still have the same desire and rush I had in my mid-20s. I love being on the sidelines, and absolutely love working with young people.”

Matt DiFilippo — 861-9243

mdifilippo@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @Matt_DiFilippo