Local high school coach investigated for 21 allegations of misconduct, district reveals findings

CLINTON, Mich. (WTVG) - Football season has come to a close for Clinton Community Schools, but there are still a lot of eyes on Head Football Coach Casey Randolph. Dozens of people packed the school board meeting on Monday wearing grey shirts stating “I stand with Coach Randolph.”

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

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

Investigators looked into 21 claims of bullying, threats, name calling, homophobic and racist statements, and physical harm. Five of the claims were substantiated, and two had already been looked at in previous investigations.

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

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

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

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

“I can personally say that without him, many people would not be here at CHS or our sports program wouldn’t be either,” said a different student.

While a majority of the people at the board meeting sang his praises,13 Action News obtained the 19-page investigation that detailed an allegedly different side of Randolph’s behavior.

Coaches and athletes described Randolph saying the homophobic f-slur, along with another derogatory term. The investigator found it was more likely than not that Randolph used those terms around students and colleagues.

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

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

“I do not doubt people have had amazing experiences. I don’t doubt that. And I’m so glad,” said Preston. “I wouldn’t wish it on anybody, I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy it was terrible.”

Preston said she previously reported other alleged misconduct to the district. She said her children even quit wrestling because of the way they were treated.

“I don’t expect anything out of the school system, I don’t expect it to change. I just hope this opens peoples’ eyes,” Preston said.

Preston was shocked to see the support for Randolph.

“How are these students supposed to feel supported?,” Preston said.

She said her heart broke hearing about claims from other community members. Some of the students and parents affected spoke out at the board meeting against Randolph and his behavior.

“I stood here and recounted the day that he struck me in the face during halftime of a football game. Now, it was not easy to speak out about that moment, but I did so because I believed that this board would take that and the mountain of evidence seriously,” said one student, describing his comment at a previous board meeting.

That student, and other community members asked the board for action.

Board members said they do not normally respond to public comment, but decided to reveal the results of the investigation at the end of the meeting.

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

That decision was met with applause and even tears of joy from some audience members 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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