BIDDEFORD – Biddeford High Athletic Director Dennis Walton didn’t have to sort through a lot of applications or conduct a number of interviews for the football coaching opening as one might expect.

No, this was a lot easier. He received only one application for the position, but as Walton said, “He was a very good candidate.”

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Brian Curit

Brian Curit, who coached Biddeford High to a Class A state title in his first season as head coach in 1994, is returning after receiving school board approval.

Walton acknowledged it was unusual to receive only one application, but suggested at times other candidates hear who has applied and decide not to. Walton couldn’t say for sure if that was the case this time, but he’s sure happy in the quality of the applicant who did apply.

“It would have been real tough if that one person had been a weak candidate,” said Walton.

Walton said he received four calls from out-of-state coaches who were also looking for a teaching position. Unlike in years past, coaching and teaching positions don’t go hand and hand.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to have Brian back as the head coach. He has deep roots in the community and he knows the kids very well. We’re very lucky that he wanted to return,” said Walton.

Curit, 49, coached Biddeford for 13 seasons (1994-2006) and had an overall record of 91-38 before stepping down.

“I have a deep love for this program and I’m thrilled they’re allowing me to do this again,” said Curit.

Biddeford made the playoffs in each of Curit’s seasons. The Tigers lost in back-to-back Western Maine finals in 2002 and 2003 to Portland and Deering. Three seasons later, Curit resigned.

“I was mentally exhausted,” said Curit.

“I felt the program needed another voice. I had a daughter coming to high school and a son in second grade at the time.”

Curit has stayed active in coaching in the lower grades, football and other sports, and as a track assistant at the high school. At lot of the boys he coached in football and in other sports are now freshmen in high school or soon will be. The freshman class, which includes his son, Joey, a quarterback, is reported to be a strong, athletic group.

“I think we can be competitive and make the playoffs,” said Curit.

That may not happen in 2013.

“The majority of the team will be underclassmen,” he said.

After that, as the freshmen mature and other players around that class improve, Curit fully expects to have the Tigers in the playoff picture regularly.

“I was taught a certain way to go about the business of coaching football,” said Curit.

“I don’t know if it’s the best way, but it’s the way I was taught. You have to make sacrifices to play football. It’s a very tough game. It’s the only game that tests the whole man,” he said.

Curit played football for the late Mike Landry at Biddeford and later coached for him on the Biddeford staff. Curit, who graduated in 1982, was a halfback-defensive end on the 1980 Class A state champions. Curit graduated from the University of Southern Maine. He teaches social studies at Biddeford High.

“Coach Landry still has a profound influence on me to this day,” said Curit.

Curit is replacing Scott Descoteaux, who resigned in February after six seasons to pursue opportunities in school administration. The Tigers were 3-5 last fall.

Curit said he will stick with the offense he ran in his first stint as coach.

“The wishbone option with the double slot. It’s the offense I know,” he said.

Curit’s staff is set. He will have two holdovers from Descoteaux’s staff in longtime assistant coach Bob Beaulieu and Jon Macomber. Rejoining the staff will be former assistants Mike Gagnon and Dana Peck. Coaching the freshman team will be Mike Fecteau, Don Wilson and Kevin Magnant. At the middle school level, the coaches will be Carl Leblanc and Keith Leblanc.

“I have some great coaches at both the varsity level and the lower levels,” said Curit, who proudly noted that a Biddeford graduate has been the school’s head football coach since 1977.

Staff Writer Tom Chard can be reached at 791-6419 or at:

tchard@pressherald.com

Twitter: TomChardPPH