WESTBROOK – Pending approval by the Westbrook School Committee this week, Michael Connolly will become the school department’s new athletic director, joining Westbrook after two years at the helm in neighboring Portland.

Connolly, 39, will replace Marc Sawyer, whose resignation in April was the culmination of months of controversy stemming from the handling of student suspensions following an underage drinking incident in November.

Sawyer resigned shortly after a second reported incident of student drinking resulted in arrests, and multiple season-ending suspensions of Westbrook athletes.

Already a 10-year Westbrook resident, Connolly lives with his wife and two children, Annie, 5, and Quinn, 2, and points to them as a major inspiration for applying for the job. Connolly, originally of Scarborough, is a University of Maine alum, where he studied education and played baseball for the Black Bears. Prior to his shift to Portland High School two years ago, he served as the assistant athletic director in Gray-New Gloucester.

The Westbrook School Committee will vote to approve hiring Connolly at a salary of $82,880 Wednesday, after the American Journal’s deadline. Connolly said following approval, his official start date will be July 1.

The American Journal spoke with Connolly this week about his move to the Westbrook School Department and his thoughts on moving the district forward in the wake of controversy.

Q: Why did you decide to make the shift to Westbrook? What do you think will be different about working for this school department?

A: As a Westbrook resident with children that will attend the schools, I felt that it was crucial that, as they get older, I work in the system in which they live. Due to the long hours in the position, this allows more interaction with them as they grow up. From a managerial perspective, the challenge in Portland is the widespread facilities. Wrestling is the only activity that takes place on site at the high school, while every other team competes and practices at facilities spread around the city. Westbrook’s facilities are well maintained, so I am looking forward to that aspect.

I think the continuity between the high school and the youth programs will be significantly different. In Portland, there are three middle schools and numerous youth leagues around the city. It is very difficult for our coaches to establish any top-down relationships due to the fact that there are so many entities working to promote athletics at different levels. I am intrigued by the possibilities of coordinating these people toward a common goal.

Q: You currently live in Westbrook. What do you like about the Westbrook community?

A: With a young family, Westbrook has provided a peaceful and safe place to raise our kids. We have been thrilled with the experience my daughter has had in the elementary school and the families we have met are wonderful. Westbrook still has a “small town” feel while offering many of the resources of a larger city.

Q: This district has had its share of controversies in the last few years. Do you think the new job will present some challenges stemming from them?

A: Challenges are inherent to this job. That being said, I am optimistic that the controversies are behind us. Each year presents new challenges but I don’t doubt that each and every member of the Westbrook community wants to learn from the past and move forward. There are hundreds of student-athletes that are great representatives of the school and they deserve to be recognized and have the opportunity to change the dialog that has impacted them in the past year.

Q: Based on your experience in other districts in the region, would you say most school athletics face similar issues when it comes to student drinking?

A: Every school deals with the same challenges. Often times, the issues never are exposed to the media but each and every administrator deals with these situations regularly.

Q: What do you think is the best way to face this issue?

A: Every high school student faces many difficult decisions. It is important to have discussions with kids regarding the challenges that they face. Creating a strong message that comes from a partnership between administration, coaches and parents is the first step in addressing the issue. The policies have been changed to eliminate some of the gray area and kids need to understand what the expectations are as they move forward.

Q: Although you are still wrapping up the school year in Portland, when will you switch gears to Westbrook? What will be the first order of business?

A: I will be shifting to Westbrook as soon as I complete my contract in Portland. My first priority will be to meet with the staff. This includes coaches, advisers, administrators, and central office staff. Sharing our mutual expectations will help me understand the district better and allow me to support individual programs.

Q: How do you think it will feel to face Portland High School next season as the new director of the Blue Blazes?

A: I have built some great relationships with the coaches and student-athletes at Portland High School and was fortunate to be around some very successful teams. In my two years, we won a state championship, two regional championships and two regional runners-up. We also were awarded three MPA sportsmanship awards, which is a testament to the great coaches and kids here. I will look forward to seeing those familiar faces next year, but I am also excited to work with a new group of coaches and hope that the Westbrook students will be able to mark their high school careers with similar success.

“Westbrook still has a ‘small town’ feel while offering many of the resources of a larger city,” says Michael Connolly, nominated to be Westbrook’s new athletic director.