After 39 years, someone else other than Peter Gardner will be patrolling the Brunswick High School boys soccer sidelines next fall.

Brunswick athletic director Gene Keene has announced the hiring of Mark Roma as the new head coach.

Roma, 44, is a special education teacher in the Brunswick school system. He has been helping the Bowdoin College men’s soccer program for 10 years.

Roma replaces a coach who compiled an overall record of 463-128-49, including 69-27 in the postseason and six State Class A championship.

“I’m very excited to get my own team,” said Roma, a Portland resident and Portland High School graduate. “I think, for me, it was the right time for a change. But, if I wasn’t in the school system, I don’t know if I would’ve applied. I think a coach needs to be near the kids.”

Brunswick, always an Eastern Maine Class A challenger, is coming of a 7-3-4 regular season with a 1-0 loss to Hampden Academy in the Eastern quarterfinals.

“It’s going to be a challenge, that’s for sure,” added Roma. “I am really looking forward to it.

“This program was Peter’s for years, I know that. They’ve always been consistent, and there’s been many Mondays where we discussed his team’s weekend games and our games. But, I think this challenge will be a good one, something that I want to embrace.”