CLINTON, Mich. (WTVG) – The football season is over for Clinton Community Schools, but there are still many eyes on head football coach Casey Randolph. Dozens packed Monday’s school board meeting wearing gray shirts that read, “I’m with Coach Randolph.”

“I’m here because the attacks on Coach Randolph were unfair,” one parent said during the public comment section of Monday’s school board meeting.

Randolph, who is also a high school teacher and wrestling coach at CCS, was accused of harmful behavior toward students. District officials launched an investigation into his alleged behavior in June, and the findings were made public in the fall.

Investigators looked into 21 allegations of assault, threats, insults, homophobic and racist statements and physical harm. Five of the claims were substantiated, and two had already been analyzed in previous investigations.

The investigator noted that some of Randolph’s behaviors violated ethics and standards, but did not fit the district’s definition of bullying.

During public comment at the school board meeting, student after student voiced their support for Randolph as a teacher and coach.

“He’s more than a coach, he’s a father figure to all of us,” one student said.

In addition to praising his character, some students noted his accomplishments within the athletic program.

“I can say personally that without him, a lot of people wouldn’t be here at CHS or our sports program wouldn’t be,” another student said.

While most people at the board meeting sang his praises, 13 Action News obtained the 19-page investigation detailing an allegedly different side to Randolph’s behavior.

Coaches and athletes described Randolph as saying the homophobic slur, along with another derogatory term. The investigator found that Randolph was more likely to use these terms around students and peers.

Other substantiated claims included that he forced a student recovering from COVID to fight against his parent’s wishes.

13 Action News spoke with that parent, Dedrea Preston, about the investigation.

“I have no doubt that people have had amazing experiences. I don’t doubt it. And I’m so glad,” Preston said. “I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy, it was terrible.”

Preston said he previously reported other alleged wrongdoing to the district. She said her children even gave up wrestling because of the way they were treated.

“I don’t expect anything from the school system, I don’t expect it to change. I just hope this opens people’s eyes,” Preston said.

Preston was shocked to see the support for Randolph.

“How should these students feel supported?” Preston said.

She said she was heartbroken to hear about the claims of other community members. Some of the affected students and parents spoke at the board meeting against Randolph and his behavior.

“I sat here and recounted the day he punched me in the face during halftime of a football game. Now, it wasn’t easy to talk about that moment, but I did because I thought this board would take this and the mountain of evidence seriously,” said one student, describing his comment at an earlier board meeting .

That student and other community members called on the board to take action.

Board members said they don’t normally respond to public comments, but decided to reveal the results of the investigation at the end of the meeting.

“At this time, the board believes this matter has been resolved and closed,” a school official said.

The decision was met with applause and even tears of joy from some members of the audience in support of Randolph. Others, including people who made allegations against the coach, said they were heartbroken and disappointed.

You can read the full report below

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