Local high schools are home to Maine’s coaches of the year
Billings and L’Heureux to coach all-star team together next month
Girls basketball coaches Glenn Billings and Billie L’Heureux have been named coaches of the year. Together, they will coach an all-start team next month. Billings photo by Alicia Allen. L’Heureux photo courtesy of George Stevens Academy.
Billings with senior varsity player Megan Wendall. Photo by Alicia Allen.
Feb. 17, 2026
By Jessica Hardy
Two Blue Hill Peninsula girls basketball programs are in the spotlight after their coaches were named Coach of the Year by the Maine Association of Basketball Coaches.
The honors went to Glenn Billings of Deer Isle-Stonington High School for Class S, and Billie L'Heureux of George Stevens Academy for Class C. Both coach girls varsity basketball–L’Heureux for the Eagles and Billings for the Mariners.
“It was completely a surprise and I wasn’t looking for it,” Billings said. “When the information came in, I said, ‘Is this for real?’ I was grinning there for quite a few hours after that, just because of what the girls were able to accomplish. I just thought this is so good for this team.”
Billings has been a coach and teacher throughout his career. He worked with his team to advance them to northern Maine’s basketball tournament that started last week at the Cross Center in Bangor with a record of 10-8. They came into the tournament as the 4th seed.
Both the Mariners boys and girls lost their quarterfinal games last week. The girls team lost 26-17 against Ashland. The boys lost against Jonesport-Beals with a final score of 77-25.
L'Heureux’s Eagles went to the tournament as the second seed with a record of 16-2, notching a 46-30 quarterfinal win against Sumner on Feb. 16. They now move on to the semifinals on Thursday, Feb. 19 against Foxcroft Academy at the Cross Insurance Center.
Whatever happens next, Billings and L'Heureux will work together to coach for the McDonald's Senior All-Star Games at Husson University on March 7.
“So, we’ll be coaching together. That’s kind of a neat community connection.” L'Heureux said. Hallie Clifford, a GSA senior, will play on that all-star team.
“It’s a great privilege. I’ve only been coaching in this area for two years, so it is nice to be recognized by my colleagues.” L'Heureux said. “Honestly, it’s the girls. They’ve worked really hard and I’m proud of them.”
L’Heureux at George Stevens Academy. Photo courtesy of GSA.
