New PIHS boys basketball coach begins practice
By Jon Gulliver
Staff writer
PRESQUE ISLE — For the first time since 1985 a new boys varsity basketball coach will be on the sidelines of the Presque Isle High School gym.
Terry Cummings 
has taken the reins from Tim Prescott, who guided the Wildcats program for the past quarter of century before stepping down last spring.
Cummings is no stranger to hoop fans in Aroostook County. The 1987 graduate of Houlton High School was a prolific high school scorer, and the points kept piling up when he continued his playing career at UMPI. After college Cummings worked his way through the coaching ranks from middle school to junior high to JV and then varsity coach at Greater Houlton Christian Academy. For the past three years he was head coach for the men’s basketball team at UMPI.
“What it came down to was there was so much travel and coaching more than one sport, there was a lot of time on the road,” said Cummings. “I have a son that is a junior and a son that is in first grade and I really wanted to spend more time with them.”
But it’s not just family concerns that attracted Cummings to the PIHS job.
“They have had a strong tradition here for many, many years with coach Prescott being here for the past 25 years,” said the new coach. “I am just hoping to continue the success they have had here.”
Cummings is a self described intense coach, but also wants his kids to have fun. He is also a fan of pick and roll basketball and maximizing a player’s talents, whether it’s on offensive or defense.
Tryouts and practice began this week for winter sports, but this isn’t the first opportunity Cummings has had to size up his players. He was hired early enough this year to run the summer basketball program, plus he was also employed as a full-time substitute teacher, so he has gotten to know some of the players in class. This week will be however the first chance all the players are together for formal workouts.
“We have scheduled at least two days of tryouts, but if we need a third to set the team that’s ok,” said Cummings. “We also go down to the Hampden Academy Tournament that weekend, so that will be good for us.”
That preseason tournament will be a good test for the Wildcats. Hampden, Nokomis, Oceanside, Jonesport-Beals and Leavitt are taking part and Presque Isle is guaranteed three games on Saturday.
The return to the high school coaching ranks will allow Cummings to visit gyms he hasn’t seen since he coached JV basketball in Houlton. He said he looks forward to the first game of the regular season at home on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 4:30 p.m. against Hermon.
