Paul Vachon, a Hall‑of‑Fame coach who steered Cony High School’s girls basketball team from 1985 to 2008, has made a remarkable comeback three years after receiving a heart and kidney transplant. The surgery in 2023 marked the start of a long recovery, but the veteran mentor never lost his drive to return to the sidelines.
A Coach’s Second Chance
Today Vachon is overseeing the Capital City Future Stars Basketball Clinic in Augusta, a program he once directed from 1989 through 2022 before health setbacks forced him away. The clinic, which now welcomes more than a hundred boys and girls each summer, blends skill development with life lessons, and Vachon’s presence has reignited the energy that once defined his early years.
The camp’s staff is a blend of past and present talent; former Maranacook players and alumni such as Brennan Boyd, Jack Fontaine, Celia Bergdahl, Grace Dwyer and Debbie Vachon have stepped in as volunteer coaches, while Vachon’s daughter Amy, who leads the University of Maine’s program, often drops by to share insights. Their combined enthusiasm creates a vibrant atmosphere that feels like a family reunion on the hardwood.
Vachon credits the unwavering support of friends, family and former players for keeping him motivated during his immunocompromised months after leaving the hospital on July 2, 2023. “Every pass, every cheer from the stands reminds me why I love this game,” he says, noting that the community’s belief in him has been as vital as the transplanted organs that now pump life through his veins.