Murrieta Valley football coach Lance Neal has been replaced after two seasons, Principal Renate Jefferson said in a press release Wednesday.

Greg Ireland, who was a longtime assistant coach to Neal's predecessor, Wally Clark, will take over the program.

The announcement, issued by the Murrieta Valley Unified School District, did not give a reason for the move, which surprised Neal.

Neal compiled a 10-11 record in his two seasons as coach. The Nighthawks went 6-5 in 2007, finishing third in the Southwestern League and qualifying for the playoffs after a two-year absence.

"I was getting a lot of compliments from people in the community after we beat Temescal Canyon to finish third," said Neal, who will remain as a teacher at the school.

Neal said he received a letter from Jefferson stating he was removed for "concerns regarding the development and maintaining of strong interpersonal relationships with teaching staff, coaching staff, the community and student athletes."

Karen Parris, the district's media and communications specialist, said she had no personal knowledge of the letter and could not comment on the decision because it was a personnel issue.

When asked if the decision was based on concerns from parents, players or the community, Parris said, "There were issues that needed to be resolved."

Neal questioned the timing of the decision, coming during the week of final exams and approximately one month before the start of summer practices.

"If they wanted to do this after Christmas, maybe I could understand it," Neal said. "These kids should be concentrating on finishing the year and focusing on the upcoming season at this time, not worrying about who their coach is going to be."

As to the timing of the decision, Parris said, "A decision needed to be made, and it was."

Jefferson was not available for comment.

Three current players and one former player have protested the decision, saying Neal had been a positive role model. Linemen Brandon Purvis, Russell Csonka and Dennis Johnson, who will be seniors next season, said they went to the district office Thursday and lodged a complaint with Assistant Superintendent Guy Romero.

The players have made t-shirts with the words, "Fight for Neal."

"(Neal) has turned us into respectable young men instead of gangsters and thugs," Purvis said. "All of us feel like he's a father."

"He keeps you accountable," Csonka said of Neal.

Neal had mixed feeling about his players fighting for his cause.

"It's good to see they feel that way," he said, "but they shouldn't have been thrown into the situation of adult politics."

Ireland was the defensive coordinator for Clark for 12 seasons. He was the head coach at Temecula Linfield Christian in 1990 and at Calvary Murrieta from 2002 to 2006. Ireland also has been Murrieta Valley's boys golf coach for several seasons.

"We are fortunate to have someone of Greg Ireland's expertise and experience to step in and take over the program," Parris said.

Reach Eric-Paul Johnson at 951-368-9530 or ejohnson@PE.com

Staff writer Claudia Bustamante contributed to this story.