This fall there will be a new face patrolling the sidelines for the Scarborough High School football team.

Dave Sterling, who was previously the defensive coordinator at Edward Little, was recently named the new football head coach. “He’s a class guy,” said Scarborough Athletic Director Frank Spencer. “He comes from a well-established football program.”

Sterling, 36, who will be moving to Scarborough with his family, said he is excited to come to Scarborough, and after meeting with players and parents, he is anxious to get the season going. “I’m glad to see they are very eager,” Sterling said. “I’m looking forward to their enthusiasm.”

At a recent meeting with Sterling, Sam Cofone, whose son Anthony will be a freshman at Scarborough High, said he liked what he saw from Sterling. “He seems to be a good guy,” Cofone said. Anthony Cofone added that he is looking forward to playing under the new coach.

Sterling comes to the Scarborough program after the team underwent a winter of upheaval. In March, Chris Kempton, who was the defensive backfield and special teams coach at Bates College, abruptly resigned just three weeks after being named Scarborough’s head coach.

“There were a number of factors that led to (Kempton) having second thoughts and resigning,” said Spencer.

Spencer said with Sterling on board, the football program is looking to move forward. “We’re going to put together a nice staff for him and I think you’re going to see Scarborough football improve because of it,” he said.

Sterling, who played at Edward Little and Maine Maritime Academy, began his coaching career after an injury cut his playing career short during his senior year at Maine Maritime. When he was no longer able to play, Sterling continued to help out the team as a student assistant. “I had to watch from the bench and help from the stands my senior year,” Sterling said. “It was a big growing up situation for me.”

Sterling began his coaching career in earnest at his old high school, starting as the junior varsity head coach for Edward Little. After a year as JV coach, Sterling moved up to the varsity, serving as the team’s defensive coordinator last year.

Now that he has taken the reins at Scarborough, Sterling said he wants to build a program that is focused both on winning a state title and helping his players build their future. “My goal as a head coach is to find the tools that help these young men best fit our program and how they can enrich their lives by playing well,” he said.

Copy the Story Link