AUGUSTA -- Erskine Academy boys basketball coach Tim Bonsant has accepted a similar position at Cony High School, athletic director Paul Vachon announced Monday. Bonsant's name goes to the Augusta Board of Education for approval Wednesday night.

Bonsant, who has been head coach at Erskine for the last 13 years, replaces Bruce Hunt who resigned last month after 15 years at Cony. The decision to leave Erskine was not an easy one for Bonsant.

"I've been blessed with a lot of good players at Erskine," said Bonsant, who coached the Eagles to the Class B state championship in 2004. "And the parents have been terrific."

Bonsant graduated from Erskine and went on to play at the University of Southern Maine for Bob Brown, the current Cheverus coach whom he considers a mentor. The same can be said of Erskine athletic director Doran Stout.

"Without Doran giving me a shot 15 years ago, I probably wouldn't be coaching," Bonsant said. "I owe an awful lot to Doran."

Bonsant is the second basketball coach hired at Cony during the off-season. Karen Sirois took over the girl program for Vachon, who resigned after 23 years to become athletic director. Vachon, who was on the interview committee for the boys job, has worked the past three summers with Bonsant at a co-ed basketball camp.

"What impressed me about Tim when I worked with him was the way his players really listened," Vachon said. "He is respected by his players. They know he puts in as much or more work than they do."

Cony graduated six seniors from a team that went 13-5 in Eastern Maine Class A during the regular season and lost in the quarterfinal round of the tournament. Bonsant said he'll continue the uptempo style he employed at Erskine with an emphasis on the defensive end. He'll also bring the same type of discipline that characterized his teams in the past.

"My kids are held accountable for their actions and playing time is earned in practice," he said.

Bonsant said he'll continue to teach U.S. and world history at Erskine but hopes to get into the Augusta school system in the future.

"It's traditionally been a very strong basketball community in Augusta," he said. "I can't wait to get going."

Erskine went 10-8 in Class B last season and Bonsant, who worked with the team over the summer, said the Eagles have a strong incoming freshman class.

Stout declined comment on a new coach until he has received a formal resignation from Bonsant.

Gary Hawkins -- 621-5638

ghawkins@centralmaine.com