HHS football coach resigning after season

Published 12:11 pm Friday, November 9, 2007

By Luke Hegdal

Staff writer

HERMISTON Hermiston High School football coach David Lewis told the Hermiston Herald on Thursday that he will resign from coaching after the season is over.

Lewis said his resignation is for personal and professional reasons. He will, however, stay on as a teacher.

The announcement is not official yet, and Lewis did not say if he would continue teaching at Hermiston High School or not.

Lewis moved from Fresno, Calif., to take over the Bulldogs from Jerry Williams who coached the team to the quarter finals in 2002.

That first year under Lewis was a tough one for the Bulldogs, returning only three starting players from the year before.

Lewis adjusted quickly, however, improving the 2-7 season to 7-3 the following year only to be knocked out by North Salem in the playoffs. Lewis’ teams have reached the playoffs each year since.

The 2007 season has tested the Hermiston team more than any season since 2003, when Lewis first started, though the Bulldogs will play Wilsonville on the road Friday in the first round of playoffs.

Hermiston Bulldogs head football coach Dave Lewis works the sidelines during the November 2 overtime loss to Pendleton. Herald photo by Terry Aichele

In his five seasons as coach of the Bulldogs, Lewis compiled a 22-14 record in the Intermountain Conference with an overall record of 24-26. Lewis-coached Hermiston teams have made the playoffs each of the past four seasons, but are 0-3 heading into tonight’s game.

In games against Pendleton, the Bulldogs are 2-3 under Lewis, losing each of the past three years.

Luke Hegdal can be reached at lhegdal@hermistonherald.com.