The Augusta Board of Education on Wednesday night approved Paul Vachon as the new athletic director for Cony High School and Hodgkins Middle School. He replaces Dan Bowers, who resigned after seven years on the job to pursue an assistant principal's position.

"I think it's great he's getting a chance to be the AD," Bowers said. "He knows all the kids, and the coaches respect him. It should be a great fit."

Vachon, who has coached the girls varsity basketball team for 23 years and won seven Class A state championships, declined comment on whether he'll continue his coaching duties. In accepting his new position, he will relinquish his English teaching job at Hodgkins.

"I love the classroom, I love the children," said Vachon who has been a teacher for 29 years. "It's time to do something different. It's a great opportunity for me."

Vachon won't officially assume his new job until July 1, but in the interim he'll job shadow with Bowers. He doesn't foresee any sweeping changes in his new job.

"Obviously, I have a lot of ideas," Vachon said. "But I really have to give a lot of credit to the ADs I've worked with from the late Peter Meagher to Ron Kenoyer to Dan Bowers."

Participation among athletes at the high school level is good these days, Vachon said. Numbers are up in the girls basketball program and football, as well as baseball and softball. The Rams also added girls varsity lacrosse this season.

"Lacrosse is flourishing," Vachon said.

Vachon, who served as middle school athletic director under Bowers, said he'd like to see participation numbers increase at that level.

Athletic facilities are somewhat scattered around the city but are quickly coming together. Lacrosse and field hockey will move to the high school next year, a new cross country trail went into operation last fall and a softball field was built at the school last spring. Baseball and soccer will remain off campus but have a number of excellent fields at the Piggery Road complex.

Vachon would like to see a new multi-purpose turf field, something that's already under discussion among members of the Capital Area Recreation Association.

"That would be something a lot of people would be excited about," he said.

Vachon, who grew up in Augusta and played point guard for the 1973 state championship basketball team, said his ties to the community are another plus.

"I feel good about knowing the community and knowing where to go if I do need help," he said. "It is a community that supports kids' activities."

Gary Hawkins -- 621-5638

ghawkins@centralmaine.com