Sedge Saunders is back on the basketball sidelines.

The former Fryeburg Academy hoop coach has been named the new varsity boys’ basketball head coach at Bucksport High School. He succeeds Larry Deans.

Saunders was the Raider head coach for 23 years, but his contract was not renewed in 2021.

Saunders is a graduate of Mount Desert Island High School, where he was the first-ever 1,000-point scorer for the Trojans and was inducted into the school’s athletic Hall of Fame in 2010.

He attended Babson College, where he received degrees in Marketing and History. After graduating, Saunders began his career teaching Social Studies at Fryeburg Academy, where he was named Class A South Basketball Coach of the Year in 2018.

“I am very excited to be back in Northern Maine where basketball is a huge part of the culture and communities rally around their team,” said Saunders in an Ellsworth American report. “I am fortunate to coach basketball at Bucksport High School, which has a tradition of excellence. I’m looking forward to helping our athletes reach their potential in what may be the most competitive league in the state. I am ready to get to work.”

The Bucks posted a 5-10 record, but still made the playoffs, losing 65-61 to Presque Isle in the play-in round.

“Coach Saunders vast basketball knowledge, experience and love of basketball will greatly benefit our program and add to our great Golden Buck tradition,” said Athletic Director Aaron Ward at the announcement of Saunders’ hiring on March 31, as reported by the Ellsworth American.