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HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS

Monmouth's Amero moves up to AD

Cross country coach of 15 years ready to step aside for new post

By Gary Hawkins ghawkins@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer

In a bittersweet move, Rick Amero took over as athletic director last week at Monmouth Academy.

In accepting the position, Amero stepped down as the school's cross country coach, a position he has held for the last 15 years.

"I had a wonderful group of kids returning," Amero said. "That was very emotional for me."

Amero guided the Monmouth boys to five state cross country titles while helping the girls to two state championships. He also coaches the girls basketball team -- a position he's held twice, including the past 14 years -- and has yet to decide if he'll continue in that job.

"For the past 21 years I've coached at Monmouth Academy," said Amero, a Monmouth graduate himself. "It's in my blood. Working with the overall program, that's something that took convincing from my peers."

Amero replaces Steve Ouellette, who resigned this spring and later took a job as principal at Madison Memorial High School. Ouellette served as both assistant principal and athletic director, but the assistant principal's position was cut due to budgetary constraints.

Amero will also split his job between athletic director and economics teacher at the school.

"He has a great knowledge ... and a passion for athletics at Monmouth Academy," Monmouth principal Scott Bell said. "He's a guy that gets it with education-based athletics."

Despite an enrollment of 240 students, the school offers a number of sports, including soccer, cross country, basketball, wrestling, cheerleading, baseball, softball and track. It will also consider adding football, which has been a club sport the past couple of years.

"We will be making a decision this fall on applying for varsity status," Amero said. "The biggest question for us is going to be the numbers sustaining the program. All the money is privately raised."

Amero said there are about 30 signed up for football with a few more expected after school begins. He attributes athletic success at Monmouth to two factors -- attention to youth programs and adult volunteers, the latter an important factor is today's economy.

"I think there is going to be more dependence on our boosters clubs," Amero said.

Tom Menendez, who has served as co-coach with Amero in cross country the past eight seasons, is the interim coach. Amero spent the summer coaching his girls basketball team and will need to get his feet wet as AD before making a decision to return.

"Rick and I will talk about that down the road," Bell said. "Another strength he brings is organization and methodical thing. Right now he wants to take care of the fall season."

Gary Hawkins -- 621-5638

ghawkins@centralmaine.com