HOULTON, Maine — Houlton High School will have two new varsity coaches this coming year, as two candidates were unanimously voted in during Monday night’s RSU 29 school board meeting.
Caleb Byron will be replacing Mike Carlos as the coach of the Houlton boy’s soccer team, while Dillon Kingsbury will take the helm of the Shiretowners’ boys basketball squad, replacing Rob Moran.
Byron played varsity soccer for Lawrence High School in Fairfield and for four years at Baptist Bible College in Clarks Summit, Pa. He moved to New Hampshire in 2012 and for two years, he coached junior varsity soccer and assisted with the varsity program at Windham High School.
During Byron’s time in Windham, the varsity teams won back-to-back state championships, which Byron credits their “excellent feeder programs.”
Byron began playing soccer when he was 6 years old and since that time he said soccer has been an important part of his life.
“I have always loved playing soccer,” he said. “But, coaching gives me the opportunity to share my passion for the game with students, while teaching teamwork and integrity.”
Byron will focus on fundamentals of the game with the varsity boys team and “to stretch physical limits and infuse players with solid soccer strategy and a team focused mind,” he said. “I hope to bring to the team a sense of unity, brotherhood and pride in both soccer abilities and personal character.”
Kingsbury has shown great success as a coach taking the Easton boys program and turning it around to be competitive contender in Class D.
Kingsbury coached four years at Easton, making the tourney all four years. During his first year, the Bears were 15-5 overall, winning a prelim game and losing to Jonesport-Beals in quarterfinals.
The following season, the Bears went 16-5, upsetting No. 1 Jonesport-Beals in quarterfinal round and losing to Hodgdon in the semifinals. The Bears racked up an undefeated regular season in 2013-14, going 20-1 overall after losing again to Hodgdon in quarterfinals.
Last year, the Bears were 15-4 overall, losing to Machias in quarters.
Kingsbury’s overall record is an impressive 66-15. He was a three-sport athlete at Presque Isle High School and went on to the University of Maine at Presque Isle. Kingsbury served as an assistant soccer coach for the Presque Isle varsity girls under Ralph Michaud.
