After 11 years and a winning record at E.C. Central, Ron Edmonds is out as girls basketball coach.
In a story first reported on nwi.com, assistant athletic director Monica Maxwell said that the administration is searching for a "fresh" replacement.
"We decided that we want a fresh start," Maxwell said. "It wasn't anything negative.
"We'd like the program to go back to where it was. Coach Edmonds had some success, and that's what we'd like for it to return to."
Edmonds leaves with a 149-87 record since the 1996-97 season. The Cardinals won a sectional title in 2006 and had a McDonald's All-American and Indiana All-Star in Dee Dee Jernigan in 2006.
The Cardinals followed their 2006 regional appearance with a 2-19 season in 2007 and 7-12 finish in the season that ended in February.
"They said they wanted to go in a new direction," Edmonds said. "They're in charge."
Edmonds added that he hasn't started looking for a new coaching position yet.
Maxwell said that there isn't a timeline yet to find a replacement, but she and athletic director Billy Maldonado hope to have a new coach in place before the summer AAU season begins.
"We would like somebody to come in with some fresh ideas," Maxwell said. "We'd like to see where this team can go."
A former WNBA player and East Chicago standout, Maxwell said that she won't be applying for the job.
"I have a job," she said. "And it takes up a lot of my time."
