Shields Resigns as MDI Head Football Coach

MDI Head Football Coach Mark Shields has resigned his position as Head Football Coach after 22 years of coaching according to MDI Athletic Director Bunky Dow.

Bunky Dow stated "As the Athletic Director at MDI I'm very sad to receive his letter of resignation but fully understand and support his reasons. Mark is a true professional and an Athletic Director's dream coach. Coach Shields was always looking to improve each season as a coach and was an excellent role model for the students in the MDI communities. He will be missed."

Coach Shields said "For me it was all about the relationships with the kids more than the wins and losses. It has been a true honor coaching for this amazing school and community. I have made some lifetime friendships with players, coaches, families and community members that I will cherish forever. The only advice I would give to fellow coaches is to love your players more than you love your scoreboard. At the end of the day it is the only thing that truly matters."

Shields served under George "Toog" McKay as an assistant coach for 7 years and became the head coach in 2003, a position he has held for the last 15 years. Shields overall record as the Head Football Coach at MDI is 74-68 with an Eastern Maine Runner-up in 2008, Northern Maine Champion in 2016 and Runner-up in 2017. Mark was named the Conference Coach of the Year in 2013, 2015 and 2017 and also was named the Maine Football Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 2016.

MDI will begin  the process of filling the head football coach's position in the next couple of weeks