When Hank Fuller woke up Monday morning, life was a little different.

Usually the first day of the fall sports season means Fuller is busy embarking on another cross country campaign at Lisbon High School. After decades of that routine, this Monday morning felt strange.

“I woke up about 7 a.m.,” Fuller said. “I said to my wife, ‘This is the first time I haven’t had to coach on this particular Monday morning.’ It felt a little funny. And it does and it did.”

Fuller retired at the end of last year. Though he’ll continue to be an assistant with the Lisbon outdoor track team, he’s turned over the cross country reins to Jeremy Williams.

“I still have mixed feelings,” Fuller admits. “It’s not an easy decision in that regard, but I know it was the right decision.”

Fuller coached the Lisbon cross country teams for 26 years. He reached the point in his life that he thought it might be a good time to pass the torch while focusing his time on other endeavors. He has a farm that he operates and family and grandkids to enjoy.

“I think it was time for a new younger approach to things, and it was time for me to spend more time with my grandchildren and family,” Fuller said. “I’ve been at this, including my time in Massachusetts, between 35 and 40 years.

“There’s a lot of good kids out for cross country right now. Jeremy’s been a very capable assistant the last two years. He’s young and enthusiastic. I just thought it was time.”

Fuller won four state titles with the boys team from 2003 through 2006. He also had five regional titles and numerous MVC crowns.

“What I’ll miss the most is the day-to-day interaction with the kids and watching them grow as individuals and as a team,” Fuller said. “The wins and losses and championships we’ve had over the years are wonderful, but that’s the icing on the cake. It’s the day-to-day interaction with the kids that I’ll miss.”

The Lisbon girls’ won the MVC title last year with a young team while the boys were made up of mostly underclassmen. With a solid contingent back, Fuller thought this might be a good time to transition the program to Williams.

“I didn’t want to leave when the program was completely depleted,” Fuller said. “The girls are coming off an MVC championship last year, and the boys are a good solid, hard-working group right now. So it’s a nice time for a new coach to get in and get his start.”

Fuller and Williams had discussed this move last year. Williams is also the JV boys’ basketball coach and coached the middle school track team last season.

“He had been talking about it the last year or so,” Williams said. “He was thinking about retirement and wanted to hand it down to somebody he trusted. He and I got talking about it. I told him I’d be interested in the job when it came open. I’ve been working with him and then he decided to retire at the end of last season.”

Williams knows it won’t be an easy task taking over a program so well-coached by Fuller for nearly three decades.

“I’m very excited, but there are definitely big shoes to fill,” Williams said. “I’m excited for the opportunity to work with the kids myself.”

With Williams being with the program the last two years,  it makes for an easy transition for the kids.

“That’s what we were hoping for,” Williams said. “The familiarity with me getting the job, and having worked with the kids, they know me and know how I operate.”

Williams was looking forward to getting started Monday and sees a promising season ahead.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Williams said. “I have most of the kids coming back. There were a couple of kids that weren’t sure if they were coming back on the girls’ side. I’m hoping they’ll come back, especially with the girls winning the MVC’s last year. It will be good to have the core of that team coming back.”

Fuller was returning home from a trip to his camp in Steuben and busying himself with work around the farm.

“It’s a good time, because there’s a good group of kids and a good coach taking it over,” Fuller said. “Everything about the decision is pretty solid, even though I have mixed emotions.”

kmills@sunjournal.com

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