NEWPORT — Nokomis Regional High School is looking for an athletic director again.

Earl Anderson resigned as Nokomis athletic director, effective July 1. Anderson’s resignation was accepted by the school board at Tuesday’s meeting. Anderson took over the Nokomis job last summer after previously serving as athletic director at Maine Central Institute.

“I’ve got 33 years in education as a teacher, coach, and athletic director,” Anderson said. “Once I got to 30 years, every year you just kind of take it one year at a time. I’ve loved all 33 years, but I think it’s a good time in my life to change careers.”

Anderson said he is taking a job for Wight’s Sporting Goods, which is owned by Andy Nickerson.

“I’m just going to be one of their reps, central and southern Maine,” Anderson said. “I’m looking forward to that. I know Andy real well, and all the other people that work there. I just think it’s a place that is a good fit for me.”

This school year was one of the most difficult in Nokomis history. Due to a budget shortfall, Regional School Unit 19 tried multiple times to get voters to approve a loan to ease the school system’s financial stress. The referendum was finally approved by the voters, but not before the school needed fundraising to save its junior varsity and freshman teams.

Asked if the financial turmoil was a factor in his decision to resign, Anderson said, “Only that it made me think about looking into alternatives. I wasn’t sure that I’d even have a job in November and December.”

Anderson coached the girls basketball team at Nokomis for 12 seasons before stepping down in 2007. Under Anderson, the Warriors won two Eastern A titles and the Class A state championship in 2001.

“It’s going to be hard to walk away from here because the people are great and the kids are great,” Anderson said. “I’m very comfortable here. I’m happy here. I think the time is right for me to do something different.”

Matt DiFilippo — 861-9243

mdifilippo@centralmaine.com