WATERBORO — Massabesic High School lost the coach of its swim team on Sunday, when Kevin Broad lost his two-year battle with stomach cancer. But really, the school, and the community lost much more.

Broad started coaching the boys and girls swim teams at Massabesic eight years ago, and he turned around the programs. The Boys team won the Southwestern championships in 2009, and the girls team has been competitive. The swimming programs at Massabesic will feel a loss without Broad, but he left them in a better place, said Massabesic Athletic Director Brendan Scully.

“It’s a loss obviously for our program. We’ve been historically an exceptional swim team, both boys and girls, and that’s a result of the efforts and the skills that Kevin brought to us,” Scully said. “Also (it’s a loss for) the swimming community as a whole. Kevin was admired as an excellent coach.”

Broad started his coaching career at Bangor High School in 1989, where he coached the girls team. That followed a successful swimming career at the University of Maine. Broad was also part of a highly successful swimming program at Bethel Park Senior High School in Bethel Park, Pa. Besides coaching the Massabesic High School teams, Broad was also an assistant coach for the Sanford Y Titans youth swim team.

Broad had also been a math teacher at Massabesic since 2007, so he touched the spirits of more than just those that he taught in the pool. Being around his swimmers during the school day helped make Broad’s teams just as successful out of the pool as they were in it.

“(Kevin) always had excellent students, excellent school leaders on his teams, and I think that’s a reflection of some his guidance and leadership to them,” said Scully. “Any time you can have a person of Kevin’s quality with your student-athletes all day long, all year long, sharing his influence and those sorts of things, it’s a huge impact for our sports program.”

Broad also taught his student-athletes something you can’t find in a textbook through his battle with cancer said Massabesic Principal Christian Elkington.

“(Kevin) taught us all about humility, perseverance and modesty as he continued teaching and coaching while battling cancer the last couple of years,” Elkington said. Scully also talked of Broad, the person. “Above his performance and excellence as a coach and as a teacher, Kevin was just a wonderful human being. Just a wonderful soul and good person,” said Scully. “I think we all lost a little bit.”

Added Elkington: “We will not be able to replace a person like Kevin Broad.”

Broad leaves behind his wife, Barbara, and a young daughter, and his loss will also be felt in the performing arts community. Broad was a member of the Seaglass Chorale among other musical groups. A memorial service will be held to honor Broad’s life at Massabesic High School on Saturday, Aug. 25 at 10 a.m. Scully said that the school will recognize Broad in some fashion within the athletic program, but that no discussions have taken place.

— Contact Wil Kramlich at 282-1535.