FARMINGTON – There was a time that the Mt. Blue girls’ soccer team was accustomed to only a few wins per season, no tournament action and a pretty regular changeover in coaches.

That was something that Dave Ronald wanted to change. Now that the Cougars have reversed their fortune dramatically, Ronald has decided it was time for him to move on. Ronald has resigned as the Mt. Blue soccer coach after six seasons.

“It’s the next chapter in life kind of thing for me,” said Ronald. “When I took over the program six years ago, we had one grandchild. We have four now. It’s been 11 straight years (coaching) and 14 out of the last 19. I’ve been coaching on and off since I was 17 years old.

“My goal when I took the program over was to see it get to a good place. It’s in a good place right now.”

Mt. Blue reached the tournament for the fourth straight year last fall and lost in the Eastern A semifinals for the second straight year. The Cougars finished 11-4-1 before losing to the eventual state champs from Waterville. Mt. Blue went 12-4-1 the year before and beat third-ranked Brunswick in the quarterfinals. It was the Cougars first quarterfinal win since 1991.

“That’s after being the team that was never in the playoffs at Mt. Blue,” said Ronald. “It was always football, field hockey and boys’ soccer.”

Ronald told his team soon after the tournament loss last fall but did not officially resign until last month. He wanted to tie up loose ends within the program and make it easier for his successor.

“It’s bittersweet, but it’s the next step in life” said Ronald. “We’ve had some great success the last couple of years, and it’s been a blast. I’ve had a ball with it.”

Ronald coached girls at the middle school level before taking a job with the Mt. Blue junior varsity boys’ team. When the girls’ program had an opening in 2002, he was encouraged by his former players to take the job. Because of other commitments, he refrained from applying, The position opened again a year later. This time Ronald took the job, making him Mt. Blue’s seventh new coach in a span of 10 years.

The Cougars quickly went from a team that won two games in an entire season to a club that won in double digits. Ronald’s last group of seniors played in the tournament every year. The skill level improved and the confidence by the players increased with it. The Cougars became a consistent threat in the KVAC and a regular playoff contender.

Though Mt. Blue graduated seven seniors, there’s still a solid group returning. Great efforts by the booster club to fund raise has left the program in fine shape for the next coach.

“Any time you’re with a program for more than four years, you leave behind that group of players that have worked for you for three years,” said Ronald. “They’ll have to work out their senior years with someone new. I’ve known these girls since kindergarten and first grade. It’s hard to step away, but it’s one of those points in life.”

Scott Walker, the assistant principal and athletic director at Mt. Blue, says the job opening has been posted. No set deadline for a new coach has been determined, but he hopes to have someone in place by spring.

“We want a coach as soon as possible,” said Walker. “There’s certainly lots of considerations given the summertime efforts to do some team building.”