Originally, Larry Thornton was going to meet with his soccer players to discuss the summer schedule.

Instead, last Friday, the coach who watched Livermore Falls boys’ soccer grow from a club team to a bonafide varsity program was explaining his resignation.

After seven seasons with the Andies, Thornton has stepped down as the varsity coach, citing a need to devote time to a new job opportunity.

“To tell them that was hard, but they understood,” said Thornton. “It was an easy decision, but it was very hard to come to it. I sat down with my wife, and we went over all the pros and cons. I just could not see myself doing it with that new job.”

Thornton has been seeking a new job for the better part of two years. When he began work with Occupational Medical Consulting in Leeds, he knew it would change his plans on coaching an eighth season.

“As everybody knows, in this economy, you have to take advantage in going back to work,” said Thornton. “It was the right time. With this new job I wanted to be able to concentrate my efforts on that. I couldn’t do both. I’ve been fortunate that the last many years to be able to work full-time and also coach, but this time, it was not going to work out right.”

Thornton took over a fledgling soccer program in 2002 and watched it grow into a formidable force in the MVC. The Andies produced winning seasons the last three years and made the playoffs.

“This will be the first group of kids in the school playing soccer that have made the playoffs all three years,” said Thornton. “It was seven years of kids that I’m extremely proud of, from 2002 until last season. They’re the ones that put everything into it to make it successful.”

Thornton will help with the transition by handling the summer soccer schedule until a new coach is hired. He may even help out as a volunteer in the future. He says he’s glad that the decision was his to make instead of being told by an employer, an administrator or being forced out by parents.

“To see what this program has gone through and what these kids have done, from seven years ago to now, and that includes the first team I had that knew they were going to lose but stayed with it so the program could be what it is now, I’m really proud of these kids and the school for sticking behind the program,” he said.

Sally Boivin, the school athletic director said the job is being posted this week and the search is underway for candidates. “We’re just waiting to see the best candidates that are going to apply,” said Boivin. “It’s going to be hard to replace him. He’s a great coach and a great guy.”