Nick Cliche named new Portland football coach

Nick Cliche is the new head football coach of the Portland Bulldogs, the school announced in a press release Monday.

Cliche replaces Sean Green, who stepped down in March.

"I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to be the head coach at Portland High School and lead such a storied program with rich tradition in Class A football," said Cliche. "I’m stepping into a very strong program with established culture that I’ve been a part of the past two seasons. There is no filling Coach Sean Green’s shoes. He’s an exceptional football coach and even better human being."

Cliche, a Vermont native, has coached football for over a decade, including nine years at the high school level.

After spending five years with Portland Youth Football, Cliche served as the offensive coordinator under Jason Jackson at Deering from 2015-17. Cliche then assisted Sean Green at Cape Elizabeth for three years, going 23-8 and winning the program's first Gold Ball, in Class C, in 2021. When Green took the Portland job in 2023, Cliche joined him, became the offensive coordinator and led the Bulldogs to the Class A state final the first year and to their first Class A state title in 22 years this past fall. Portland averaged 36 points per game in 2024.

Cliche said that the program will return eight coaches and there will be many similarities to the style of play Portland featured the past couple years.

"We will run the same no-huddle, up-tempo, multiple-spread system on offense
and we will be very aggressive and multiple on defense both in coverage and in our fronts," Cliche said. "While we graduated a large and talented senior class, there is plenty of talent returning."

That group includes reigning Maine Gatorade Football Player of the Year, Cordell Jones, who has received 10 Division I offers to date, including the service academies, All-Conference running back/defensive back Alex Martin, linemen Colin Haigh, Dom Huntington and Law Nguyen, placekicker Justin Bouchard, and skill players Charlie Abrahamson-Thompson, Bailey Jordan and Alex McKusick.

Green advocated for Cliche to replace him and is thrilled he was hired.

"I'm incredibly proud of Nick and couldn't be more excited to see him take the reins at Portland," Green said. "He's been my right-hand man and one of my closest friends for years. He knows how to win, how to lead and how to keep building a winning culture. He's as organized and prepared as they come and he's got a great group around him. Beyond all that, Nick is a great person and someone of strong character who truly cares about the players, the program and the community. The program is in great hands. I'm looking forward to following along and watching him take Portland to the next level."

Cliche is a graduate of Thomas College, with a degree in sports management, and after working for the City of Portland Parks and Recreation Department for 18 years, is now the Community Services Director in Scarborough. He lives in Saco with his wife, Rachelle, and their six-year-old daughter, Vivian.

Cliche's first game as Bulldogs' head coach will be in early September, at home versus Oxford Hills.

"We hope to build on recent success and focus on continuity within the program while working hard every day for continuous improvement," Cliche said.

Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffersports@yahoo.com