The athletic program at Scarborough High School has grown by leaps and bounds and Frank Spencer has been there for the biggest chunk of it – but, he’s retiring at the end of this school year after 33 years in the education field.
He’s not exactly sure when his last day will be. He plans to see each of the spring sports teams through the current season before handing over the athletic director’s reins to Chris Moreau, from Dexter Regional High School. They also may work together
to get a new football coach on board during the transition time.
Spencer, 55, may seem young to be retiring, but he has carried a full workload for a long time and says family considerations led to his decision to follow his wife Judy into retirement at this time.
“There are some family issues,” says Spencer, noting the passing of his father six weeks ago. “There’s the homestead and my mother in assisted living in Vermont that need my attention. It’s just the time to retire.”
He says, however, that with four grandsons and a granddaughter getting involved in their own sports here in Maine, he doesn’t anticipate moving away anytime soon.
Spencer grew up in Rutland, Vt., before coming to Orono in 1970 where he played football for the University of Maine. He began coaching softball, football and wrestling at Portland High in 1974. Then it was on to a lengthy, 14-year, teaching and coaching career at South Portland High where he worked alongside coaching greats like John Wolfgram and Tony Hamlin.
His next step was becoming the athletic administrator at Scarborough (high school and middle school), a former Class B school in the Western Maine Conference.
“When I started (seven years ago) we barely had 700 students,” Spencer recalls, “now we are very close to 1,100 in one of the fastest growing communities in southern Maine.”
Spencer oversees 88 teams (50 at the high school) in what he says has been the state’s biggest athletic program for four years.
“I think the only sport we don’t offer is skiing,” he says, “and I don’t see that being too far off.”
He’s seen the evolution of a football program, the reintroduction of field hockey, the addition of wrestling and girls’ ice hockey, lacrosse long with many other growth spurts among the sports teams.
The school’s mascot has changed in Spencer’s time from Redskins to the more politically correct Red Storm and all the facilities have been revamped, upgraded and modernized. Scarborough is now in the Class A ranks and a power in the Southwestern Maine Activities Association in many sports. Scarborough’s improvements have been exceptional. The addition of an all-weather field turf surface, new gymnasium facilities, lights, fan seating and many other amenities are amazing.
Moreau, Spencer’s incoming replacement, calls Scarborough’s facilities incredible, “almost like a college campus.”
Spencer says he won’t disappear from the local athletic scene and may soon return to officiate lacrosse. He says he has also had a “hankering to try basketball officiating.”
“I’m looking forward to having a whole lot more normal hours,” Spencer says. “There have been many, many days with multiple events and a lot of late nights and missed meals. It’s been a nice time to be here at Scarborough and I really have enjoyed the
heck out of it.”
Spencer says the successes of the athletes and coaches always put a smile on his face and he’s proud of his associations with the teams and their accomplishments.
“It’s hard to give it up in the sense of there are so many great people to work with,” he adds, “from the student/athletes right up through the coaches and the rest of the administration.”
He cites the advent of the cell phone, vehicles like golf carts or John Deere “Gators” as some of the modern athletic administrators’ most valuable tools. The efforts of the school’s athletic trainers and his long-time secretary Robyn Carrier have also been integral components to making the job easier.
Carrier and Spencer have a mutual respect for each other’s efforts.
“I have worked for Frank for five years” Carrier says. “He is probably the most patient and kindest man I have ever worked for. He does his job well because of his love of sports and his compassion for the kids and the people he works with. Frank leaving is going to be a huge loss not only to the athletic department, but the school itself. I know for me it is going to be a sad day, this community will truly find out just how much Frank really did.
“He works some days 12 hours, has to come in on Saturdays and works late many nights,” she adds. “I know I am going to miss him but it is a great opportunity for him to enjoy the things he loves, such as golf and traveling. The timing is right for him and I wish him all the best.”
Spencer says some people call Carrier the actual athletic director “and maybe rightfully so,” he adds. “It’s really been a fun time to be involved in Scarborough athletics. There have been many great people to work with and I’m glad to have gone through it without any major calamities.” Spencer sconcludes. “It’s been a good time, but it’s time for me to move on.”
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