19-year-old gets Hodgdon post
By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
He may be one of the youngest coaches taking the sidelines this basketball season, a place once held by his former Easton coach Dillon Kingsbury.
CODY TOMPKINS, a 2012 graduate of Easton High School, is the new varsity girls’ basketball coach at Hodgdon High School. 
Cody Tompkins, 19, has been hired to lead the Hodgdon High School girl’s basketball team; a decision that the RSU 70 school board made during their June meeting.
This will be Tompkins’ inaugural year as a varsity coach, but Hodgdon Athletic Director Wayne Quint believes this young man can fit the bill in Hodgdon.
“He is very enthusiastic,” Quint said. “And we are happy to have him. We received good recommendations.”
Tompkins’ first coaching stint was at Easton’s Recreation Department in 2010.
“I really enjoyed working with the kids and sharing my love of the game of basketball with them,” he said.
After Tompkins graduated from high school, he coached the junior high boys in Washburn and assisted on the junior varsity and varsity squads.
Tompkins has played basketball since he was part of the Easton Recreation Department Little Bears program, progressing into junior high and high school.
“In high school, I was coached by Travis Carter and Kingsbury, both who were great role models and educators of the game,” said Tompkins.
Last year, the Hodgdon Lady Hawks, who reached the Class D semifinals, losing to Schenck, 54-52, graduated six seniors from their squad. This year, the Lady Hawks will be facing a rebuilding year under their new head coach.
“I took some time to think about the duties and responsibilities of a varsity coach,” explained Tompkins. “Soon after, I knew that I wanted to build a program and Hodgdon was a perfect scenario for me to do just that.”
However, a young man coaching young ladies with about five years or less separating them in age could possibly be a red flag for many potential employers.
“I don’t see my age being a factor like most people do,” Tompkins said. “With any job a person has in life, a certain level of professionalism has to be met. My team understands that. At the end of every day, I am the coach, they are the student-athletes.”
During the off-season, Tompkins works for the town of Easton and this fall, he will be a sophomore at the University of Maine at Presque Isle where he is studying elementary education with a focus on social studies.
