WINSLOW — Less than three months after leading the Winslow High School girls basketball team to a state championship, Lindsey Withee has resigned as the team’s head coach.
Withee informed the team Wednesday morning after making a difficult career decision.
“It was going to be tough to be able to continue coaching,” Withee said. “I came to that fork in the road and had to make a decision of career versus coaching, something that I’m extremely passionate about.”
A Newport native, Withee, 33, coached the Black Raiders for six seasons, culminating with a Class B state championship victory over Lake Region on March 2 at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. Over the Memorial Day weekend, Withee accepted a regional manger’s position at Jobs For Maine Graduates, which will call for an increased workload and more travel.
She informed Winslow athletic director Jim Bourgoin of her decision Wednesday morning.
“I was surprised, only because with the way the season ended I assumed she’d be coming back,” Bourgoin said. “When she told me about the opportunity she had and that she was really struggling with the decision, I told her, ‘Look, there’s only one decision here.’ I don’t blame her one bit.”
Bourgoin said he’d like to have a new coach hired by the second or third week in June, to align with the start of the summer basketball program. He was not immediately aware of any in-house candidates for the position.
“I’d like to move quickly on it,” Bourgoin said.
Withee was extremely complimentary of Winslow and its athletic community.
“They took a chance on me,” Withee said. “I’d never been a head coach when they hired me. This is one of the best communities I’d ever been around, from the rec level to the support from the community and the staff at Winslow High School.
“These young women that I’ve coached, they forever have a special place in my heart. It was probably the best six years of my life.”
That six-year run concluded with the Black Raiders’ first state championship in 13 years.
“Obviously, this season was extra special,” Withee said. “From when it started on day one until it ended on day 104, it was just amazing.”
Travis Barrett — 621-5621
tbarrett@centralmaine.com
Twitter: @TBarrettGWC
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