Bucksport Golden Bucks

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 For fifty years, Joel "Sank" Sankey was the heart of Bucksport High School. Not just a football coach, but a teacher, mentor, and guiding force who shaped countless lives in our community.

Under his leadership, our Golden Bucks football program reached heights we could only dream of – five State Championship appearances and that unforgettable 2004 State Title. But Coach Sankey's true victory was in the character he built in all who knew him.

  Sank didn't just teach X's and O's. He taught life. Discipline when it was hard. Excellence when mediocrity would have been easier. Integrity when no one was looking. His distinctive voice – firm yet caring – continues to guide former players and students long after they've left his care.

What set Coach apart wasn't just his football knowledge, but his remarkable consistency. Day after day, year after year, he showed up. He put in the work. He lived his values. In an era of constant change, his fifty years of dedication to one school stands as a monument to purposeful living.

  To Coach Sankey's family – thank you for sharing him with us. The evenings, weekends, and summers he gave to his Bucksport family were time away from you. His influence lives on in thousands of lives he touched.

  Perhaps our best tribute to Coach is to live by what he taught us: Work hard. Stay disciplined. Show up when needed. Care about something bigger than yourself.

Rest well, Coach. Once a Golden Buck, always a Golden Buck.