Robert MacGregor Morse

Robert "Bob" Morse first achievements in skiing came at the high school level when he captained the 1962 ski team at Deering High School in Portland. He showed his versatility by winning Skimeister honors through five events, downhill, slalom, giant slalom, cross country and jumping.

Unfortunately, the University of Maine, Machias from which he graduated in 1967 had no athletics but he still prepared himself well for a career in coaching. Since 1970 Morse has coached cross country running, track and field and skiing at both the junior high and high school levels amassing numerous championships and awards, his ski teams winning a total of 39 state championships.

From 1984 to 2004 his girls teams won nine overall (4 events) titles, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003 and 2004, and twelve Nordic crowns, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1995, 1996, 1997,1999, 2003 and 2004 and the 2004 alpine championship.

During the same period his boys teams won eight ski championship (4 events), 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1995, 1996, 1998, and 2004, and eight Nordic titles, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993 and 1996 and they were alpine co-champions in 2004.

The Maine Sunday Telegram named him coach of the year twice, Ski Coach of the Year in 2000 and Girl's Ski Coach of the Year in 2004.

While winning is important to any coach developing athletes is equally important and many of those who skied for Coach Morse have gone on to make their own contribution to the sport as competitors and coaches.

Both Scott Loomis and Walt Shepard have competed at the US Team Level. Others have skied at the college level, several for NCAA Division I schools and some can be found coaching at the high school and college level. Yarmouth skiers have made All America status in Division I colleges and Maine skiers are regularly recruited by the best schools.

Coaches also need raw material in the form of skiers and facilities. On the facility side Morse helped to rebuild and maintain the Hurricane Mountain jump which the school used until jumping was dropped from high school skiing.

To spread skiing beyond the school Bob worked with the Yarmouth Ski Club as they set up programs for junior skiing. He also r e c r u i t e d cross country runners into s k i i n g transferring their skills to the ski trails and developing more skiers.

Coach Morse has worked with the organizations in skiing as well, serving as President of the Maine Ski Coaches Association for five years and as Nordic Liaison to the Maine Principals Association for three years. He also works with the New England Nordic ski Association to promote junior cross country skiing.

Bob Morse also took time to serve his country retiring after 26 years in the U.S. Army Reserve. He hasn't retired from coaching and his teams look forward to more success. This successful career in coaching which continues to contribute to Maine skiing has earned Robert "Bob" Morse a place in the Maine Ski Hall of Fame.