Carlos not rehired as Washburn girls coach

    WASHBURN — Washburn District High School is in the market for a new girls varsity basketball coach after deciding not to rehire Mike Carlos, who successfully guided the girls to consecutive state championships.
    Carlos was informed of the decision last Tuesday by superintendent Ed Buckley, who declined to give a reason for the contract not being renewed.
    Buckley did release a prepared statement which read, “Washburn District High School is a unique school where students respect the teachers and our teachers respect the students. We encourage all students to participate in sports, music, drama and clubs because students who are involved in co-curricular activities are healthier, do better academically and are much more well-rounded individuals. Consequently, we do not measure the success of our athletic teams by the number of contests they win but whether it is a positive experience for all our students.”
    Buckley said the decision not to rehire Carlos was his. He added the position will be advertised sometime in May.
    Carlos just finished his third year as coach and in the past two seasons the girls amassed an impressive 41-3 record, and the Beavers were the No. 1 seed for the Eastern Maine Class D girls tournament both years.
    Carlos has held a number of coaching positions, both high school and college, in Aroostook County spanning nearly 30 years. During the past soccer season he guided the Houlton Shiretowners to an Eastern Maine Championship in Class C.
    “I am proud of what we accomplished,” he said.
    As for his future he said on Monday he is weighing some options and would be making a decision soon.
    Whoever is hired to coach Washburn will inherit a very talented basketball squad, which will lose no one to graduation. The Beavers relied heavily on freshmen and sophomores and the juniors provided stability and leadership.