Winslow coach, Mike Siviski, retires after 35 seasons with program
WINSLOW, Maine (BVM) — For over three decades, the Winslow High School football program has been run by head coach Mike Siviski. Taking over in 1985, Siviski has cemented his legacy for a program so near and dear to his heart.
Siviski was once a three-sport athlete at Winslow, graduating from the high school in 1965. He would go on to play football at the University of Maine, before picking up his coaching desire later on at the program. Siviski would become a student assistant for the Black Bears coaching staff during his time at the university.
After graduating from the University of Maine, Siviski would get a teaching job at Thornton Academy in Saco and would join the Golden Trojans’ football coaching staff.
Siviski would remain in southern Maine for 16 years, before an opportunity to return to his alma mater would arise. With Winslow coach Harold “Tank” Violette retiring after the 1984 season, the Black Raiders head coaching job would open up.
Siviski would take over the football program in 1985 becoming just the third coach since 1958, to hold the position.
Winslow, a small high school of under 450 students, has gone on quite the run under Siviski’s tenure. In his 35 seasons, Siviski has led the Black Raiders to 287 wins and seven state championships. The 2016 John Wolfgram Coach of the Year winner will finish off his career with a 287-101 record.
Siviski’s seven championships would come in back-to-back fashion five times in 1992 and 1993, 2000 and 2001 and his most recent in 2014 and 2015.
The Black Raiders head coach was known for his offensive mind showcasing that with a 52.9 points per game average last season, while also putting up 76 points against Medomak Valley. Siviski’s work on the offensive side will be part of the historic coaches long-list of accomplishments.
In his last season, Winslow finished 9-2 and came up just short of another championship, losing to Maine Central Institute, 49-21, in the Class C title game.
Winslow shared the news with his senior players, realizing it was finally time for him to hang it up. With the high school football season still up in the air because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Siviski acknowledged the uncertainty as a factor at the time of his decision.
With the Black Raiders’ head coaching job open, the school will forward assistant coaches Pete Bolduc and Wes Littlefield to be approved as interim co-head coaches for the 2020 season.
