More women are coaching Maine high school boys soccer than ever before

By Sam Canfield, Bangor Daily News Staff

As recently as 2016, just two of the 127 active high school varsity boys soccer programs in Maine had female head coaches. By 2022, the number had jumped to four. This fall there will be 10.

Of the 25 schools with head coaching vacancies this offseason, East Grand, Foxcroft Academy, Leavitt Area (Turner), Mattanawcook Academy (Lincoln), Pine Tree Academy (Freeport), Wiscasset, and Wisdom (St. Agatha) all hired or promoted women, joining the ranks of Erskine Academy (South China), Hampden Academy, and York.

With 7.8 percent of varsity boys soccer teams in Maine now being coached by women, the Pine Tree State is way ahead of the national average. Women account for 25 percent of all head coaches in American youth sports, but just two percent of all head coaches in boys sports, according to a 2022 study by the Aspen Institute. 

Conversely, men coach 68 percent of varsity girls soccer teams in Maine, compared with 13 percent of all girls youth sports teams nationwide. But many women are also getting involved with girls soccer, filling 18 of the 40 available head coaching vacancies this offseason.

Collectively, this new generation of female coaches has a lifelong passion for soccer, a willingness to buck cultural barriers and a thorough understanding of players’ needs, making them the best candidates for their jobs, they say. They hope this year’s spike in hires across Maine was not a coincidence, but instead shows a broader trend toward equal gender representation in soccer coaching.

“It’s still something that isn’t quote-unquote normal,” newly promoted Foxcroft Academy boys soccer coach Faleesha Gaylord said. “I get a lot of disappointing comments — trainers and fans asking me ‘Which one’s your son?’ or ‘Where’s your head coach?’ Once there’s a first few that make coaching commonplace, more women want to apply — the more you see it, the more it will grow.”

Gaylord was previously an assistant coach at Foxcroft Academy for two years, before being promoted to the head coaching role this offseason. Her familiarity with the team’s identity and willingness to develop a rigorous winter training program ultimately led to her appointment.

An established local presence is a common element among these coaches.

“I’m not new to the boys or the program,” said Wendy Milliken of Leavitt, who was promoted from the junior varsity job this offseason and previously coached at the middle school level in nearby Greene. “We’re struggling to find coaches, and I’m not ready to give up on these kids. I’m also a teacher, so the connection’s there. Women that are coaching have the passion.”

Madison Hartley at Hampden Academy also started coaching boys soccer at the middle school level, right next door to the high school at Reeds Brook in 2019.

Hartley was called up to serve as the interim junior varsity coach at Hampden in 2020, and interviewed for the varsity job in 2021. The Bangor native is entering her fourth season with the Broncos.

“When I first started coaching this group of boys back in middle school, I just plain and simple wanted to coach a game I loved — I didn’t care whether I was coaching girls or boys,” Hartley said. “I have been very lucky to have had a group of young men that has been so respectful, especially as I have found my footing over the years I’ve been in my position. I truly think it has to do with who is the best, most prepared candidate to lead a team successfully.”

Considering how much enthusiasm they’ve received from their players and communities, these women don’t plan on quitting coaching anytime soon, and see an avenue for more of their peers to join their ranks.

“Overall I feel like I have such great support, and in my experience the boys don’t look down at us for being females,” Milliken said. “I hope that those of us in it now can inspire others to not be afraid to try. It’s super rewarding, and if you love something enough, you can make an impact no matter what.”