The Winslow High School boys have gained a basketball coach while Oak Hill has lost one.

Jared Browne, who coached the past two seasons at Oak Hill, recently accepted a job to coach boys basketball and teach at Winslow. Browne, who played basketball at Winslow and graduated in 2002, said the opportunity was too good to pass up.

“Primarily the chance to go home and continue to give back to the school who made me the person I am today,” Browne said of his reasons for applying for the job. “I just want to give back to that community.”

Browne replaces Scott Wood, who was arrested this year and charged with unlawful sexual touching of a girl under 18 years of age. Wood pled guilty in July and was sentenced to 364 days in jail with all but six months suspended. As part of a plea agreement, he forfeited his teaching certificate along with the boys basketball and girls soccer coaching positions he held.

“It’s a tough way to take over,” Browne said.

In nine seasons, Wood recorded over 100 wins and coached the Black Raiders to the Class B state championship in 2004. Last year, Winslow went 15-3 during the regular season and reached the Eastern Class B semifinals before losing to Camden Hills. Wood was named Morning Sentinel Boys Basketball Coach of the Year.

Browne played for Mike Thurston at Winslow and was part of the program’s turnaround. In his junior year, the Black Raiders finished eighth and reached the preliminary round of the Class B tournament. In his senior year, they reached the tournament for the first time since 1986.

Browne coached junior varsity basketball at Oak Hill before taking over the varsity program two years ago. The Raiders went 7-11 during his first year and 3-15 last winter in a season marked by several close losses including an eight-point decision to Winslow.

Since taking over at Oak Hill, Browne established travel teams from the third grade on up and conducted summer programs that included clinics for youngsters. Oak Hill returns nine players to the varsity and has 15 incoming freshmen.

“They’ve been playing together for a long time,” Browne said of his returnees. “They’ve got some good chemistry; it’s just a matter of taking it to the next level.”

First-year Oak Hill athletic director Jim Palmer already has advertised the boys basketball position.

“We’ve already got a few people interested,” Palmer said.

Winslow graduated six seniors, most notably center Mike McCann, who scored more than 1,000 career points. They return a good nucleus of players including point guard Justin Murray, who scored 30 points in a quarterfinal tourney win against Medomak Valley, shooting guard Mackenize Michaud and sixth man Jesse Audet.

The team didn’t have a formal summer program but did play some scrimmages and practices through the recreation department.

“Knowing the type of players these kids are they played a lot on their own,” Browne said. “It was definitely not a lost summer at Winslow.”

Gary Hawkins — 621-5638

ghawkins@centralmaine.com

 

Copy the Story Link