Don Allen is the new boys varsity basketball coach at Deer Isle-Stonington High School. By Monique Labbe
Deer Isle—When the Deer Isle-Stonington High School boys basketball team takes the floor for the first game of the regular season next week, they will do it under the direction of new head coach Don Allen.
Allen was hired for the position after resigning last season from a four-year stint as the girls varsity basketball coach at Bucksport High School.
“I had resigned and I thought I had done my time as a coach. I was a little tired,” said Allen with a laugh. “But then I had a few parents from [DIS] tell me that they needed a new coach here for the boys; so, I applied and it seemed like a good fit when I met for my interview.”
Allen’s basketball coaching experience dates back to the early 1990s, when he started as the head coach for his daughter’s elementary school team in Blue Hill. From there, he went on to coach at the AAU level before taking the girls junior varsity position at George Stevens Academy under varsity coach Larry Deans. He stepped into the varsity role four years later, and held that position for 10 years before moving on to Bucksport.
“I think what I love the most about coaching is working with kids. I probably should have been a teacher,” said Allen, who works carpentry by day. “It’s great to see them come together, and see the pride in their faces when they start to understand a play or get better at something.”
Allen said he is excited to be working with the Mariner boys team this year. Made up of only one senior and freshmen and sophomores, the group has already started making improvements during the early practices and scrimmages.
“We’re very young, but they’re already ahead of where I thought we were going to be at this point,” said Allen.
Allen said he likes his teams to take a high energy approach to the game of basketball, particularly during game competition.
“If the talent permits it, I like to run a fast paced game,” he said. “I like to really put the pressure on with the defense and run the ball on offense. I think it is much better basketball, more exciting basketball. This group of boys I have this year is very motivated and dedicated, and I think that’s the style of play we’ll be able to bring as the season gets going.”