Neil W. Lash has a long history in the Midcoast as an outstanding coach, curator, community leader, educator and athlete. Neil’s tenure spans from Waldoboro High School, Gorham State (Now the University of Southern Maine), Walton School and Edward Little High School in Auburn, Rumford and the University of Maine-Machias, coaching boy’s basketball, baseball, girl’s cross-country and serving as the University of Maine Machias Men’s Assistant Basketball Coach. He was an outstanding athlete in basketball and baseball while at Waldoboro High School. In college, he was a four year pitcher for Gorham State. He played semi-pro baseball for Friendship, Waldoboro and for the Auburn Aces. His 1982-83 Medomak Valley Boy’s Basketball team went 17-1, a group that he still cherishes to this day. A true man of character, he stepped away from varsity coaching because he found himself thinking about x’s and o’s on Sunday mornings rather than praying in church. He is currently the unofficial assistant A.D. at Medomak Valley High School attending and volunteering for a myriad of games throughout the school year. Neil was one of the founding fathers of the Medomak Valley Nature Trail, and upon completion, the trail was dedicated to him in 2011. It is now called the Neil W. Lash Nature Trail. In 2010 he was honored by receiving the Medomak Valley High School Athletics Service Award. Perhaps his most significant contribution to basketball in Maine is his role in guiding and directing over six hundred players per summer at the legendary “Hoop Camp” in Casco, serving as the camp’s Director from 1970-1988. He currently serves as Vice President of Midcoast Sports Hall of Fame, and is the curator and director of artifacts for the “Hall.” Numerous visitors have mentioned that the “Hall” and its decorum is one of the best local Sports Halls of Fame in the New England region. At Medomak Valley Neal is known worldwide for his work with the Heirloom Seed Project. Not only did Neal sow seeds in the ground, but seeds in the brains of a myriad of students over the past fifty years. He and Jon Thurston co-founded The Seed Saving Program at Medomak Valley. This program is known throughout the United States and world, and the living history arboretum has touched the lives of many pre-med and life skills students from Medomak Valley.
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