Eleven months after being introduced as Edison High's football coach before a rousing on-campus reception, Ricky Manning Jr. has been fired.

The decision was made by school Principal Lindsay Sanders, Tigers athletic director Pat Riddlesprigger said Tuesday.

Neither Sanders nor Manning could be reached for comment.

Riddlesprigger didn't say whether the decision was discipline related: "Mr. Manning didn't have his contract renewed, and that's it. There's not much to say."

Last season, Edison tied Sanger and Bullard for the County/Metro Athletic Conference title, advanced to the semifinals of the Central Section Division I playoffs and finished 9-4 overall.

The program now faces its fourth coaching change in as many seasons.

Manning replaced Tim McDonald, who replaced Jim O'Brien, who replaced McDonald.

Asked whether the instability at the top was troubling, Riddlesprigger said: "Bottom line, the kids have been a stable force throughout all of that. For the most part, they've been really resilient, kind of like rubber bands -- stretched out but always bouncing back strong.

"So, does it bother me? Yes. But it's part of coaching."

Manning, like McDonald, was one of the most accomplished football players in Edison history who then excelled in college -- in this case, at UCLA in both football and baseball -- before establishing a career in the NFL.

The defensive back played six seasons with Carolina, Chicago and St. Louis, finishing in 2008.

He was introduced as Edison's coach last March before more than 100 students, in addition to several school and district administrators and teachers and community members.

"It's truly a great day when we can welcome back one of our Edison High graduates to take a leadership position on campus and have a major influence on the lives of Edison students," then-Principal Brian Wall said a year ago.

Manning said that day he was encouraged by McDonald to take the job.

He also said then: "I definitely believe God placed me in this moment to be leaders of young men, to be an influence on these students."

Manning, a local business man, was an off-campus coach.

Riddlesprigger said he couldn't begin to name a timeline to replace him: "Wish I knew. Wish I knew."