Name: Mitch Ouellet
Sport played: Men's Basketball
Years played: 2006-2009
Year graduated: 2009
Academic major/minor: History and Secondary Education
Current address: South Portland
Please share some of your favorite SJC memories - on and off the field:
Although wins and losses most often define the success of a season, the memories that stand out the most have to be the time we spent together as a team. In the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons we were not affiliated with any specific conference and had the opportunity to schedule games all across the country. Roads trips to Southern California and New York city brought us together as a team, but it was the weekend long trip to Northern Maine which gives me the best laugh. The most obvious memory that former teammates joke about happened while playing in a Saturday/Sunday doubleheader with the Universities of Maine at Presque Isle and at Fort Kent. Between dropping the girls off for their game and returning to pick us up the bus slid off of the road and needed a tow. Luckily I grew up in Fort Kent so my parents were able to call in a few favors and got a few vans and SUVs to bring all of our bags and us to town in time for the game. This was the same road trip when on the way back to campus the door was jammed open and Assistant Coach Todd Wing was stuck in the first row for six hours in a January snowstorm.
Notable performances as an SJC athlete (records, championships, individual accolades):
2008-09 Season: Named team captain by my teammates and coaching staff. This was the biggest individual accomplishment that I received while at SJC; to be trusted and looked to as leader was a huge thrill for me. 2008-09 Season: GNAC Champions. During the 08/09 season our team won our conference championship in an overtime game vs. Emmanuel College, which would earn us an automatic bid into the D3 Championship Tournament. Thinking about that game and the atmosphere of the gym I still get chills.
Where are you employed? Please tell us your job title, duties, how long you've been there, etc.:
I am currently in my second year as an Assistant Principal at Mahoney Middle School in South Portland. Mahoney has an enrollment of around 320 and is one of two middle schools in South Portland. Traditionally, Assistant Principals deal with student discipline. That is the case with my current position but with a focus on Restorative Practices and connecting school behaviors with real-world scenarios, consequences, and restorative actions. I have the fortune, also, of being in charge of Athletics and Activities at Mahoney as well as some direct supervision of teachers.
Please tell us about your family, if applicable:
I am happily married to Heather Lyle and, even though she went to UNE, she is my best friend and a staunch supporter of everything St. Joes related. We got married this past July. Heather and I are planning to grow our family soon, but for right now it is the two of us and our six-year-old Bulldog, Ted.
What do you do for fun?
I was very fortunate to stay connected to the game of basketball right out of college. I have coached high school basketball at the Freshman and Junior Varsity levels at both Cape Elizabeth High School and Deering High School. Coaching, right now, has transitioned to the back burner, but I do get out and watch a few High School and College games. Much like any other Maine resident, fun usually is dependent on the season that we're in. All seasons here in Maine are great to explore the outdoors with snowshoeing and hiking trails, as well as many hunting and fishing areas to the West and North of Portland. Summer brings with it the tourists, beaches and picturesque landscapes of this area, and there isn't much better than enjoying all that Portland and South Portland have to offer!
