Coach Bacon retires after 30 years in school district

By Oliver Lazenby

Carey Bacon, Blaine school district librarian, cross country and track and field head coach, is retiring after 30 years

working for the district.

Bacon was the head cross country coach for 18 years. He started assisting with the track team that same year and became the head coach five years ago. He also coached middle school baseball his first three years in the district.

“I will absolutely miss working with high school student-athletes and my fellow coaches,” he said. “It’s been mostly a joy to coach and I constantly marvel at how athletes develop and mature.”

Bacon said his highlights as a coach include working with the cross country team in 2009, when the girls won the state championship and the boys came in second. But seeing individual athletes reach goals and breaking school records was on par with that experience.

“It is a thrill to be a part of someone’s dream and then see it actualized,” he said.

Carey Bacon. Photo by Oliver Lazenby.

Bacon is hopeful that a new face with energy can boost numbers for Blaine’s cross country and track teams. Cross country in particular has had a low turnout in recent years.

“I do think what it will take to get more numbers is someone who will spend lots of quality time with kids in younger grades and during the off-season, especially in the summer,” he said.