AUBURN — Edward Little High School’s new girls basketball coach is already well-known in the Auburn-Lewiston basketball scene.

The school announced Wednesday in a news release that Kristina Blais will lead the next era of Red Eddies basketball.

“We are pleased to have Coach Blais join the Red Eddie coaching staff,” Edward Little athletic director Todd Sampson said in the release. “She brings an extensive coaching background and resume, as well as an outstanding knowledge of the game to the position. She is … well-established … possesses a true understanding of educational-based athletics.

Blais takes over for Chris Cifelli, who led Edward Little to its only girls basketball state championship in 2018.

Blais is a graduate of Lewiston High School, where she played basketball, soccer and lacrosse all four years. She served as a captain of all three sports.

After high school, she played at Central Maine Community College, and helped the Mustangs win the United States Collegiate Athletic Association Division II women’s basketball national championship in 2017. Blais also was a captain for CMCC. Last year, she was named to the Mustangs’ all-decade team.

Following two years at CMCC, Blais then played two seasons at the University of Southern Maine.

Following her playing career, Blais began training basketball players and eventually became the owner/operator of the Lewiston-based Maine Basketball Club.

She started coaching, and served as an assistant coach ton Andrew Morong at CMCC. This past season, with Blais on the coaching staff, the Mustangs earned their third USCAA national title.

“She is an exceptional coach whose coaching style and philosophies will be a great fit for the program while committing to develop the program’s youth level through high school,” Sampson said.