Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School football coach Ryan Kent has stepped down, paving the way for the possible return of former longtime coach Donald Herman.

Mr. Kent notified athletic director Mark McCarthy on Monday that a fellowship position would conflict with coaching duties this year and resigned after a year on the job.

Mr. Herman, who led the Vineyarders to an overall record of 220-90 and five Super Bowl championship victories before retiring in 2015, confirmed that he has applied to return to the sidelines after retiring two years ago.

He said he has missed coaching since he retired after 28 years as a teacher and coach.

“I’m a coach,” he told the Gazette Friday. “I did it for 35 plus years. I’m a football coach. That’s just something that’s hard to walk away from. I talked to my wife about it, she’s very supportive. She’s ready to get me out of the house,” he said with a laugh.

The football team has had a rocky time since Mr. Herman’s departure, with two coaches in two seasons. Last year the team had to cancel the last two games of the season, including the Island Cup against Nantucket, because of a roster depleted by injuries and disciplinary issues.

There will be a public search process to name the next football coach.

“We are opening up applications to the public,” Mr. McCarthy said. “I do have other people that have shown interest. Typically what I do is form a committee to interview the applicants.”

Mr. McCarthy said he hopes to complete the search process and name a new head coach before the end of the school year, which ends June 22.