Tim Flanagan High school teacher Tim Flanagan is doing what he loves; teaching math and coaching girls basketball. (Photo Ryan Thompson)

"I can honestly say I didn't expect to be coaching basketball again," Flanagan said.

But after history teacher Carla Pierce resigned her position as coach this year, Flanagan says athletic director Ted Finn asked if he would step in.

"He said they needed someone with experience." Flanagan agreed to take the position, and began his post on November 18.

Flanagan has 35 years of experience in 10 different sports. He began his coaching career at Westbrook High School in 1971, and served the students as a golf coach for six years and indoor track instructor for four.

He began teaching in Wiscasset in 1978 and jumped at the chance to start the girls' track program that year. A year later he was also coaching cross country and junior varsity basketball.

He taught golf at Wiscasset for a combined 25 years, girls tennis for over 15 years, boys varsity basketball for nine years as well as at the middle school, little league and younger levels.

During his basketball coaching tenure, Flanagan says he found it necessary to retire because, he said, he puts a lot of stress on himself and coaching takes a lot of work.

"I have a lot of fun teaching and coaching, but I put a lot of energy into teaching the kids," he says.

After 1994 Flanagan retired from coaching boys basketball only to return in 1997 when former athletic director Bob Birmingham asked for an experienced coach to run the squad.

Flanagan's experience will come in handy with tryouts beginning and a game at Monmouth just a few weeks away. Throughout preseason practices Flanagan will choose players based on their physical fitness, ball handling skills and shooting defensive skills to decide which players will lead the team.

Perhaps the biggest factor in his choices is a player's teamwork and how well they encourage each other.

"If kids love the game and if you show them they're getting good at it, they will work harder," he says.

Hard work is part of Flanagan's coaching philosophy. Players should hustle whether running down the court or stepping up to the foul line.

Flanagan describes himself as a defensive coach, creating opportunities by forcing turnovers and getting easy baskets through fast breaks and speedy offense.

"Look for opportunities to stay in the game. If we can play smart and learn to play under pressure in the last two minutes we'll be in the game," he says.

In addition to scrappy defense, Flanagan will stress "disciplined offense," emphasizing passing to open teammates, where they can make a high percentage shot.

"If our four girls can get down the court faster than their three girls, we have a good shot opportunity," he said.

He says his goal for this year is to reach the playoffs and ultimately make it to the Western Maine Tournament at the Augusta Civic Center.

Flanagan says one of the best parts about coaching is the preparation, getting the girls ready for their next challenge. Another is watching the girls' progress throughout the season.

"I like to sit back and see how they improved over the year," he says.

He admits it can be frustrating when he has trouble figuring out why the team is struggling in a particular area.

He said coaching is very similar to teaching math in that kids will do better if they progress and enjoy math or the sport. Coaching is different in that not all kids in a math class love math while athletes who try out for a sport already enjoy it and are fairly good at it.

"Coaching is really teaching, only you have the whole gym as your classroom," he said.