Longtime youth coach tells board he and players faced harassment; asks for investigation

Michael Oates, a lifelong Elyria resident and volunteer coach, used the board’s public-comment period to raise concerns about the district’s athletic program and personnel choices.

Oates said he started and independently funded a youth softball program and expected to transition to coaching at the high school level with the program. He told the board he believes a small number of parents have targeted him and, later, that emails and disparaging claims about his reputation have followed him as he sought other coaching opportunities.

"I'm a lifelong resident of the city of Elyria. I have been a youth coach in the programs for about 13 years," Oates said. He told the board he had been under the impression he would move up with the program to the high school level but that, "Apparently, there's a couple of parents that don't like me," and that the situation escalated into what he called harassment. He said, "My daughter refuses to play for the high school softball program because of this. She is a stellar athlete, a 4.3 grade point average… And they are losing out on a great kid because of this." He added that "multiple girls quit on them this year. 6. 6, to be exact."

Oates suggested the alleged harassment came from staff hired by the district’s athletic director and said he could provide supporting emails; board members asked him to email documentation to the superintendent. The superintendent and other board members said they would look into the matter.

The board did not take immediate formal action during the meeting beyond offering to review materials; a member asked Oates to submit the emails so staff could investigate and follow up.

The board’s regular agenda included multiple personnel approvals and recalls, routine contract approvals and a broader finance discussion; Oates’s comment came during the public‑comment portion of the meeting and was recorded before formal votes.