ROCKPORT — A familiar face to Camden Hills Regional High School will be taking the reigns of the Windjammers’ athletic department this summer. 

Following seven years as the athletic director, Steve Alex resigned in April to accept a civilian position with the U.S. Air Force as an air refueling mission planning specialist in Hawaii.

At its June 5 school board meeting, the Five Towns Consolidated District school board approved long-time Windjammer Jeff Hart as the high school’s new athletic director. 

“Jeff obviously brings a wealth of experience in athletics, community and district history, and an understanding of our student body and educational mission,” said Superintendent Maria Libby. “Over the past few years he filled in as an Assistant Principal for us twice when we had a temporary need and he demonstrated strong skills as an administrator. We look forward to his leadership of the athletic program at Camden Hills.” 

Hart began teaching for the district in 1982 after earning his bachelor’s degree from the University of Maine. 

Most recently, he worked for the high school teaching physical education and coached the varsity boys basketball team for 37 years. 

Hart, in the past, coached junior varsity softball, junior varsity baseball and varsity baseball, in addition to leading the school’s annual senior trip to Washington D.C. 

For his coaching accomplishments, he was inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame (2009), Midcoast Sports Hall of Fame (2010) and Maine Basketball Hall of Fame (2018). 

Hart has accumulated more than 500 victories as a head basketball coach and has been recognized by the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference for his accomplishments as a baseball and basketball coach. 

Hart is leaving his positions as boys basketball coach and physical education teacher to ensure his new position has his full attention. 

“I am really looking forward to this new challenge,” he stated. “I have huge shoes to fill — Steve has been an amazing person in this job. But I can't wait to get started!”

Sports Illustrated once named Camden Hills the top high school sports program in Maine due to the school’s abundance of conference, regional and state championships in a variety of sports, according to the job posting for the athletic director position. 

A variety of Windjammer teams have earned sportsmanship awards from the Maine Principals’ Association, the state’s high school sports governing body, in recent seasons. 

Hart’s salary as athletic director will be $91,500.

Reach George Harvey and the sports department at: sports@penbaypilot.com.