Bryan Potts will not be back next season as a football coach at Lakeland High School.

He said he was notified in a meeting on Jan. 7.

“I was shocked,” Potts said, noting that when he went into the meeting, it was the first he had heard about the possibility of his being removed from the position. “That was the last thing I was expecting to hear.”

Despite the school’s decision, he said Lakeland principal Douglas Wagoner was highly complimentary of him, noting the decision was not regarding wins or losses, it was not regarding Potts’ ability to coach nor his ability to lead young men.

Potts said Wagoner cited the reason for the decision as “the stability of the program,” but added the principal admitted he was unsure if “stability” was the right word to use.

When asked why Potts is no longer coach, Lakeland activities director Gregory Rountree said, “We needed to do a little something different than what we were doing.”

He added that the decision “was just what was best for the kids at the time.”

Rountree said discussions resulting in this decision had not been long-term and just took place after this latest season.

Potts said Wagoner made it clear it was a difficult decision as the coach’s positives outweigh his negatives by far.

Lakeland went 1-9 during Potts’ first-ever year as a head coach in 2013, and the Cavaliers improved to 3-8 in 2014.

“I just let them know that I was very grateful to be their coach for two years,” he said. “It was definitely a learning experience, and it was definitely one that I needed to grow.”

Potts remains at Lakeland as a physical education teacher.

Rountree confirmed a wide-ranging search for a new head coach has begun.

“We’re actually interviewing on Monday,” he said.