LEWISTON — Lewiston High School football coach Darren Hartley resigned from his position on Thursday, effective immediately. 

Lewiston football coach Darren Hartley talks to his assistant coaches through a headset during an October 2019 game. Hartley stepped down as the Blue Devils coach Thursday. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Hartley told the Sun Journal that this season wore him down. 

“The toll that this season has taken on me has left me exhausted physically and emotionally,” Hartley said. “It was an awful decision, but one I needed to make in order for my well-being and the continued growth of the program.”

The Blue Devils are 0-3, having opened the season against three of the best teams in Class A, Oxford Hills, Bangor and Thornton Academy.

“We talked this morning over the phone that he thought it was in his best interest, both mentally and physically, to pull himself out of the equation here during football,” Lewiston athletic director Jason Fuller said. 

The football team met with Hartley after school Thursday.

Fuller said Justin Bisson is taking over as interim head coach for the rest of the season and Lewiston will “evaluate things at the end of the season and figure out the direction of the program.”

The Blue Devils face Mt. Blue on Saturday at 1 p.m. The game was initially scheduled for Friday night, but it was one of a handful of contests that switched to Saturday.

“We have a great group of dedicated coaches, and our players will be well served by them in my absence,” Hartley said.

Hartley also coached the Lewiston baseball team for four seasons. He said Thursday that he resigned from that position earlier this year.