ROCKPORT — The old saying is you can't go home, again. In the case of Steven Cox, that could not be further from the truth.

Many, many years ago, way back in 1982, a young man named Jeff Hart was hired to coach basketball at Camden-Rockport High School. Those were lean years for the Windjammers.

One day, Freshman Steve Cox introduced himself to Coach Hart.

"One of my earliest memories of being here was this young guy walking up to me on one of the first days on the job. He said, ‘Hi, my name is Steve Cox. I'm a freshman, and I look forward to playing for you.’" said Hart.

That started a four-year relationship between a player without great skills but with a desire to play, and a new coach who went on to become one of the all time best high school coaches in the state.

"He wasn't very big but he was tough as nails, and played as hard as anyone I've ever seen," said Hart. "Over those four years, Steve gained a reputation of being a great defender; in fact, in some circles he was referred to as ‘MasterCharge.’ He was good for taking at least two charges in every game. He came from a great family. His dad was instrumental in helping to get the youth program back on its feet when I first came. His younger brother, Andy, also played for me."

Cox is himself coaching basketball these days at Mt. Ararat High School and this coming Friday night he and Hart will square off against each other for the first time in a regular season game.

Mt. Ararat has always played in Class A while Camden, until this season, was Class B. Now the two shall meet.

Mt. Ararat comes into the game Friday with a 9-3 record and is in fifth place in the Maine Principals' Association Heal Point standings for Class A South. Camden is in Class A North and currently in 12th place at 2-11.

"It's not a surprise to me that Steve has his team playing well," said Hart. "I'm sure they play like he did, and that means you're in for a dogfight."

Recently, Penobscot Bay Pilot asked Steve Cox about his time playing for Coach Hart.

PBP - What years did you play?
S.C. -1982-1986. These were his first four years at Camden-Rockport High School. As a scrawny little freshman, the team had an unfortunate injury during the week of tryouts and Coach Hart took a chance on me and let me play with the big boys.

From there we had a close four years navigating through the challenges of building a program which he has since taken to the top of Maine Schoolboy Basketball.

PBP - Does his success over the years surprise you at all?
S.C. - His success is no surprise to anyone who played for him. Regardless of the talent he had, the Camden-Rockport and Camden Hills teams have consistently played quality high school basketball and represented the community very well. Over the years when asked by other basketball minds where did you go the high school? I take great pride in having been a Windjammer under Coach Hart's reign.

PBP - Where did you go to college to play?
S.C. - I first attended Clark University where I found myself completely cut from the team. That year Clark was NCAA D3 National Runner-up. With a desire to still be involved in basketball, my sophomore year found me at the University of Southern Maine playing for another coach with roots in the Midcoast, Coach Bob Brown.

Ironically, our team consisted of all Maine kids and had a tremendously successful season end in the NCAA D3 Northeast Regionals with a two point buzzer beating loss to who else..... Clark University. With a desire to pursue an engineering degree I did not finish at USM. I transferred yet again to the Orono campus where I completed my engineering degree.

PBP - How long have you been coaching at Ararat? Have you coached at other schools?
S.C. - This only my second year as head of the Mt. Ararat program but I have been involved at other levels of the program for many years. When long time coach Aaron Watson moved on to an athletic director position, I initially requested to be on the selection committee for his replacement. Careful what you ask for; one thing led to another and here I am.

PBP - Is there anything from your playing days under Coach Hart that you have brought with you as a coach.
S.C. - I would say three things: His intensity, particularly when he was in his early 20s, his loyalty and compassion for his players, and his awareness that every player is unique.

PBP - What is your fondest memory of playing high school ball for Coach Hart
S.C. - It is probably the locker room celebration following the 1985 win over Rockland just before Christmas. That Rockland team was a very talented group of basketball players and athletes. As you may recall, that Rockland team lost in the 1986 Eastern Maine Championship game in five overtime periods to Dexter. That may have been the first hug I got out of Coach Hart but it certainly wasn't the last!

PBP - How much of an inspiration was Coach Hart in making you decide you wanted to coach as well.
S.C. - Because I am not a ‘career coach,’ when you first asked this question I didn't think much about others inspiring me to be a coach. However, I quickly came to realize I love to motivate young kids to achieve things that even they may not be aware they can do. I love to get players to think outside their comfort zones. I enjoy challenging individual talents to achieve greater success as a unified team. I also hope that being able to lead many of the student athletes at Mt. Ararat High School may translate into them being great leaders in the communities they end up settling into as adults. So, reflecting on your question, I think it is abundantly clear why Coach Hart was an important influence on the person I am today.

Mt. Ararat Athletic Director Todd Sampson speaks highly of Cox.

"Steve is a tremendous leader and coach, I am sure a lot of this comes from his former coach," he said.

For Coach Hart, this is bound to be fun, coaching against a young man to whom he taught basketball. This is one game, though, where Hart will probably not be wishing Coach Cox the best of luck....

Game time is Friday, Jan. 22, at Camden Hills Regional High School. Should make for a fun night of local high school hoops.

Reach Ron Hawkes at sports@penbaypilot.com