Darren Johnson said last night he has resigned as Kaimuki High School football coach after two seasons.

Johnson took the Bulldogs from the O'ahu Interscholastic Association's White (Division II) Conference to the Red (DI) this year and they advanced to the league quarterfinals before losing to defending state champion Leilehua.

"It's personal reasons; it was just the time I needed to step down," Johnson told The Advertiser. "It was one of the hardest things I've had to do."

Johnson said Kaimuki athletic director Fred Lee was notified on Friday and the players were told on Monday.

"They took it hard, because we have a good family there," Johnson said. "But these two years were good fun, and there's nothing but good ahead for the program."

Johnson, who had eight mostly successful seasons as Kailua's head coach before taking over at Kaimuki in 2007, guided the Bulldogs to an 11-2 record and the DII state tournament last year.

Kaimuki was then promoted to the Red, where it went 5-5 overall and defeated Waipahu in the first round of the playoffs.