Eric Canton will not return for a fourth season as South Kitsap’s football coach.

Canton, 47, said he made the decision to resign after multiple meetings made it clear he would not be asked to return.

“I was given a choice and chose to resign as opposed to fight a losing battle,” Canton said via email.

He said he was called into the principal’s office Dec. 17, and then met a couple of days later with athletic director Ed Santos. On Dec. 23, Canton met with now-retired assistant superintendent Dave Colombini, assistant superintendent for human resources Misty Dieffenbach, Santos and a couple of union representatives.

Canton, who has three children in the South Kitsap School District, declined to comment further on that meeting or his departure at this time.

“I just need to make sure I don’t put myself in a position that is unfavorable to me and my family,” he said. “I am so angry and disillusioned right now I could explode.”

Canton wrote a letter of resignation after the final meeting and met Dec. 26 with his coaching staff.

A 1986 South graduate, Canton was the first alumnus to coach the Wolves’ football team since Maynard Lundberg (1933-39). He was hired May 17, 2012, after D.J. Sigurdson moved into an administrative role at the high school. Canton also coached at Bremerton, where he compiled a 3-24 record from 1996-98.

Canton compiled his lone winning record during his first season with the Wolves, when the team finished 6-4 and advanced to the Class 4A state play-in game. South was 4-6 and 3-7 the last two years.

After the Wolves’ 48-7 loss Oct. 31 that eliminated them from playoff contention, Canton said, “We’ll figure out what’s going on” in terms of his future after the season. South then lost its finale, 36-26, at Shelton to finish with a 3-7, which tied 2010 for the program’s worst record since 1977. The Wolves also compiled losing records in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1976-77.

In addition to those issues, Canton dealt with an uprising against him on social media.

“I cannot comment due to advice from attorneys and higher ups,” Canton told the Independent in November.

Despite those issues, Canton said it was his “plan” to return at the time.

“I’m looking forward to next year because how young we were this year,” Canton said. “Hopefully, we can get the other pieces to step up.”

Canton, a former punter at the University of Washington, was just the South’s third coach since 1974.

“The district thanks Mr. Canton for his years of service as South Kitsap High School’s football coach,” said Santos, who declined to comment further on Canton’s departure.

Santos said a search for Canton’s successor will begin soon.