CARIBOU, Maine — Todd Albert has decided to dedicate more time to his growing family and other pursuits and is giving up the Caribou girls’ varsity soccer coaching position he has held for the past 17 years.
The 45-year-old Albert, who is a health and physical education instructor at Caribou Middle School and also the school’s athletic director, said the timing was right to resign the post.
“It’s more about family than anything,” said Albert, who is the father of 2-year-old Marlowe. He and his wife, Morgan, also have another child on the way.
“There is a lot going on and I thought this was the time,” he added. “I want to be able to see my kids’ activities as they get older.”
Albert was the sixth and longest tenured girls’ varsity soccer coach at CHS in the history of the program that began in the early 1980s. He replaced Kirk St. Peter in 2001, which was the first season the team was competing in the Class B ranks after nearly 20 years in Class A.
The Vikings still played a Class A schedule and struggled that first season, going 2-13, but it didn’t take long for Albert to turn things around. His team made it to the regional finals in 2003 and he went on to accumulate 13 winning seasons, going 159-97-13 overall.
The pinnacle was 2010 when the team made it all the way to the Class B state championship game, beating Presque Isle at home in the Eastern Maine finals before losing to Falmouth in the state game, 1-0.
Caribou also reached the regional title game in 2009. Last year’s squad finished No. 1 in the Class B North Heal Point standings with a 13-1 record before being upset by Hermon in overtime in the quarterfinal round.
“I had a lot of good kids over the years,” Albert said. “I think there was consistency and the players knew what to expect, plus I think we developed a great summer program which really helped.”
Albert is the co-owner of the Aroostook Driving School and that will continue to keep him busy. He also has been a certified official with the Northern Maine Board of Approved Soccer Officials for 27 years and said he will now have an opportunity to increase his availability to work high school and college matches during the fall season.
