Todd Gerhart is out as football coach at Norco High

Todd Gerhart, who won two Southern Section football championships as coach at Norco High, has been removed from that position, a school district spokesperson confirmed.

“It was a district decision for Mr. Gerhart to not coach next season that was made for the best interest of our students,” said Evita Tapia-Gonzalez, communications manager for the Corona-Norco Unified School District.

Gerhart, who coached at Norco for nine seasons, was placed on paid administrative leave April 8 pending an investigation of a complaint filed by a former assistant coach. The school conducted a meeting Friday afternoon at which players and parents were informed of Gerhart’s dismissal.

“Coach Gerhart is saddened and disappointed that the district elected not to renew his coaching contract for the coming season,” Gerhart’s attorney, Mark Humenik, said in a statement. “. . . He leaves Norco with his head held high knowing that he devoted his heart and soul to the Norco community and is looking forward to the next chapter.”

Norco went 85-28 under Gerhart and won back-to-back section titles in 2005 and 2006, when sons Toby and Garth played for the Cougars.

Toby finished second in the 2009 Heisman Trophy voting as a running back at Stanford and now plays for the Minnesota Vikings. Garth, an offensive lineman who played at Arizona State, is a member of the Green Bay Packers’ practice squad.

The school district would not comment about the reason for Gerhart’s dismissal, but Tapia-Gonzalez said Gerhart’s request to transfer to Auburndale Intermediate School in Corona as a teacher has been granted. She also said Larry Baker, Norco’s defensive coordinator, would serve as interim coach.

“He requested a transfer so as not to be a distraction to the program as they move forward under Coach Baker,” Humenik said in the statement.

Tapia-Gonzalez said she did not know when a search for a permanent coach would begin or whether Gerhart could eventually return to his former post.

“Coaching positions are temporary, year-to-year positions,” she said. “It’s not uncommon for coaches to not coach in an upcoming season. They are different positions than teaching positions.”

Gerhart’s youngest son, Coltin, was Norco’s quarterback the last three seasons and is entering his senior year. He has football scholarship offers from Arizona State, Duke and Iowa State, according to Rivals.com.

andrew.gastelum@latimes.com

Twitter: @andrewgastelum