AUBURN – Jim Hersom is doing everything within his power to become a cancer survivor.
The head of Edward Little High School’s physical education department has submitted himself to aggressive treatment, and the naked eye would have no idea. His diet and exercise regimen is so structured that the fit 47-year-old appears in better shape than the student-athletes he has coached for half his life.
But coaching football, much as Hersom has lived and loved the game since his days growing up in this city, puts a gnawing in his gut and a strain on his mind that no longer fit into life’s big picture.
Hersom has set aside his whistle and playbook at EL after seven years with the Red Eddies’ football program, including the last four as head coach. He informed Edward Little Principal James Miller and Athletic Director Dan Deshaies of his resignation last week, less than two months before fall tryouts are scheduled to begin.
For the first time since he accepted an assistant coaching position at Mt. Ararat in Topsham, fresh out of the University of Maine in 1983, Hersom won’t be affiliated with a high school football team this autumn. He has coached at four different schools and led his teams to three appearances in the state title game.
“It’s going to be different, but I’ll get through it,” Hersom said. “I just got a great report from my doctor earlier this month, so I’m going to concentrate on the most important thing, which is staying healthy. I know what the football season does to me, and I’m smart enough to realize that I can’t go there.”
Hersom has battled prostate cancer for two years.
The disease is prominent in his family history. It took the life of his father, legendary EL coach Lawrence “Doc” Hersom, just as twin sons Jim and John were getting started in their coaching careers in the mid-1980s.
“I feel excellent, better than I have felt in a long time,” Hersom said. “The mental aspect of football season is the hardest thing (on my health). I have a hard time letting things go. I’ve had time to think about it and talk it over with my family, and this is what I need to do right now.”
Hersom lives in Turner with his wife, Mary, and sons Jordan, who is entering seventh grade in the fall, and David, soon to be a sixth-grader.
He has coached the two boys’ baseball and basketball teams and suspects that he might fill the void in August and September by volunteering at their football practices, too.
Mary Hersom said the entire family is at peace with her husband’s career move. He will continue teaching at EL.
“I feel good about it,” she said. “He feels good about it.”
Miller accepted Hersom’s announcement with mixed emotions. While the principal is sorry to lose a successful, experienced coach from his staff, he is grateful for his colleague’s continued recovery from a life-threatening illness.
When Hersom informed his administrators shortly after the 2005 season that he had thoughts of stepping away, both Miller and Deshaies urged him to take his time and weigh all sides of the issue.
“He’s been talking about it since the end of last season. He decided that its time to do something different for a little while,” Miller said. “It’s tough to see him go. He’s great with the kids. He’s been great for the program.”
Hersom’s first season after taking over from Gene Keene was his most successful one.
EL won the Eastern Class A championship in 2002. After starting the season 3-4 and teetering on the brink of playoff elimination, the Eddies won four consecutive games by a total of 14 points to reach the state final.
Two of those triumphs came at the expense of rival Lewiston, including a 16-13 double overtime victory in the Pine Tree Conference title game at Walton Field. That win gave EL its first gridiron championship of any kind since back-to-back Class A state crowns in 1976 and 1977. Jim and John Hersom were the starting quarterback and halfback, respectively, on those teams, with Doc Hersom roaming the sideline.
Portland defeated Edward Little, 41-6, for the 2002 state championship.
Prior to accepting a teaching job at his alma mater and joining Keene’s staff in 1999, Hersom experienced his greatest success during a 13-year run at Livermore Falls. He served a dozen of those as head coach, guiding the Andies to Class C runner-up finishes in 1990 and 1992.
“I really enjoyed that time,” Hersom said.
In addition to his year at Mt. Ararat, Hersom spent two football seasons at Brunswick, one as freshman coach and another as varsity head coach.
Hersom retires, for now, with a varsity head coaching record of 86-72.
He anticipates making the transition from coach of one PTC school to fan of another this fall. John Hersom is currently head coach at Lawrence, where Jim’s twin nephews will start their senior season in September.
“It will feel a little strange when the season comes around,” Hersom said, “but I’m sure I’ll be at a lot of games.”
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