November 2, 2007, Yarmouth, Maine: North Yarmouth Academy (NYA) announces the hiring of Edward W. Rogers, Jr. as Varsity Boys Basketball Coach and David Gagnon as Varsity Girls Basketball Coach. Gagnon's daughter, Danielle, former Catherine McAuley School and Bates College varsity player will be his Assistant Coach.
Rogers, a senior vice president at Smith Barney, lives in Falmouth with his wife and four children. He has been coaching since the early 1980s and played on both the Cheverus and Bowdoin varsity teams. This is his first high school varsity head coach position, and he is excited and ready to get started. He describes his coaching style as an "enthusiastic, up-tempo, defense-oriented style of play with a lot of pressing--very much a team approach." He is looking forward to the teaching side of coaching. When asked about his goals for this season, he said he hoped both the team and the individual players overachieve. "The wins and losses will take care of themselves," he said. He has great expectations with four Class-B games scheduled including the Tip-Off Classic November 29-30, where NYA will play against Class A schools, South Portland High School and Thornton Academy. He also has a game planned against Class A Massabesic High School. The team’s first Class C regular season game is against Traip Academy on December 7. He feels that a challenging schedule will only make the team better.
Gagnon, branch manager at Norris Inc., lives in Gorham with his wife and daughter. He played both basketball and soccer at Greely High School and has worked as an official. He coached the girls basketball team at Holy Cross School in South Portland and also boys AAU teams. He said his experience as an official will only benefit his coaching because he knows the rules inside and out, and he knows what officials watch for and can coach the girls accordingly. His experience coaching his daughter, Danielle, has "given him great insight into the game of girls basketball at all different levels." He describes his coaching style as big on fundamentals. "The girls will definitely get a lot of direction from me on the sideline," he said. On his daughter (who is also an official) being his assistant coach, Gagnon said, "Danielle and I work very well together, and I'm very much looking forward to working with her. She had an opportunity to assist with the girls program this year at Central Maine Community College and passed it up to work with me." When asked about the upcoming season, he said, "I hope that the girls build on their current knowledge of the game, develop the fundamental skills that are needed to play at the varsity level, and definitely have fun."
NYA Athletic Director, Jeff Thoreck said, "We are lucky to have such a talented new coaching staff for our varsity basketball teams. I am looking forward to seeing the teams grow under this new leadership."
North Yarmouth Academy is an independent, college preparatory, coeducational day school serving students in grades 6 through 12. NYA is dedicated to fostering integrity, character and intellect in young adults. For more information, please contact NYA at 207-846-2380 ext. 9327.