Hockey coach won't sign evaluation; school sees it as resignation

BY RACHEL LENZI

Blethen Maine Newspapers

Longtime hockey coach Norm Gagne apparently won't be returning to Lewiston High next school year, the result of what he says is a dispute over a performance evaluation he received last week.

Gagne said he wants to continue coaching at Lewiston, but his contract will not be up for renewal when the Lewiston School Committee meets Monday to consider personnel matters.

"The way it is right now, I want to coach at Lewiston High School," said Gagne, who has coached high school hockey in Maine for 35 years. "Some people want to block that, and we were at a disagreement. My administration says they're behind me but I feel in some ways they're trying to micromanage my coaching philosophies.

"I told them I wouldn't resign, but I told them, 'Until I have my say, I won't put my name up as coach for next year.' But I'm not resigning."

Gagne's refusal to sign the evaluation is tantamount to resigning in the eyes of the school district, adminstrators said. "I believe the superintendent has accepted his resignation," said Lewiston principal Gus LeBlanc.

Added Lewiston athletic director Jason Fuller: "Norm has chosen not to have his name forwarded to the school board for the 2008-2009 school year. I'm not at liberty to discuss it because of personnel issues.

"There was an evaluation, we met and we went though it, just like I do with every other coach. But this is a personnel matter. Norm chose not to have his name forwarded to the school board."

Superintendent Leon Levesque could not be reached for comment Friday. Gagne completed his third season at Lewiston. Under Gagne, the Blue Devils are 46-21-4 in Maine Principals' Association competition and have won three Eastern Class A championships.

Gagne coached at Gardiner, Waterville and Gorham. Gagne has won six state championships and is the fourth-winningest coach in the nation with a record of 562-225-20, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations.

Gagne would be the fourth coach to leave Lewiston this school year, following girls soccer coach Rick Meyers, swimming coach Becky Angelides and boys basketball coach Pat Blais.

LeBlanc said he was in the administration office when Gagne verbally stated his intention not to have his name forwarded to the Lewiston school committee, but LeBlanc would not discuss details of the coach's annual evaluation.