Class A State Champions Thornton Academy is looking for a new head coach for its boys’ ice hockey program.

Less than five months after winning the state championship in hockey, head coach Shawn Rousseau is leaving Thornton Academy for Kent School to accept a new position with the private school located in Western Connecticut.

This according to Dan Hickling of the Biddeford Journal Tribune, who broke the original story, will also include Rousseau’s wife Laurie, will be teaching at Kent along with being part of the girls’ ice hockey and lacrosse teams.

Rousseau’s stats during his time at Thornton Academy have been unmatched as his teams have made the playoffs every year, posting a 47-14-1 record, but this was more than a personal move. Rousseau, who hails from a family of five brothers, has shown strong convictions about his own family and even hinted as much when speaking with the Journal Tribune.

“I have enjoyed three good years at Thornton Academy as an administrator, teacher and coach,” Rousseau told the Journal Tribune. “Naturally, it is difficult to be moving on, particularly so soon after the hockey team’s great success. The move to the Kent School provides excellent professional growth opportunities, both for me and for my wife, Laurie. In addition, our two daughters will benefit tremendously from the educational opportunities available at Kent. While I am very sad to be leaving Thornton, I do see, clearly, that the move to Kent is a positive one for me and for my family.”

Despite leaving for new opportunities, Rousseau, who guided Thornton Academy to their first ever state championship back in March with a 4-3 double overtime victory over Lewiston, was admittedly disappointed at the prospects of not being back to coach the Golden Trojans in defense of their state title.

“I deeply regret that I will not be able to coach Thornton’s hockey team next year,” he told the Journal Tribune. “I love the boys dearly, and I will miss them more than I can adequately express. I wish the team the very best of luck. I think they have an exciting year ahead of them, and I have no doubt that they will be incredibly successful.”

Thornton Academy is beginning a search for a new coach, but Athletic Director Gary Stevens has indicated that it won’t just be someone who is a solid coach, but someone with a strong academic background.

“Ideally, we need to have someone who is committed to athletics with a strong academic basis,” Stevens to the Journal Tribune. “That’s what Shawn did.”