CLIMAX, MI -- A Climax-Scotts varsity football coach and athletic director remains on paid administrative leave as the school district weighs its next steps following an investigation into alleged misconduct, drawing heated debate at a special school board meeting Monday night.
A large, animated crowd spoke both in favor and against Climax-Scotts' Tyler Langs, who has been employed within the district since 2021.
The entire meeting was made available here.
Per News Channel 3, the district has yet to come to a decision on Langs' employment status.
Citing personnel privacy laws, the district declined to provide details about the allegations against Langs.
However, during the public comment section of Monday's meeting, several athletes and former students expressed concerns over Langs' coaching, including alleged intimidating language, public humiliation and demands he placed on athletes.
2025 Climax-Scotts graduate Jackson Bagwell cited issues over Langs' coaching during wrestling season, when Langs also worked with student-athletes.
"When it comes to wrestling, the pressure he put on us was unnecessary and inappropriate," Bagwell said. "Me and my teammates were always micromanaged. Our weight was always a big factor. If we were cutting weight, there was always a threat that we might not be able to play football again.
"The added pressure was not helpful at all and it made us not like him. During football season, we saw him as a friend but during wrestling season, we saw him as an enemy."
A Centreville resident spoke of Langs' time as the head coach of the Bulldogs, before he was hired at Climax-Scotts in 2021.
"I discussed with Mr. Langs in a meeting why he used such negative techniques with no positive reinforcement," the speaker said. "He humiliated players and belittled them, telling them they would never play college sports."
One Climax-Scotts senior said Langs’ coaching has been “very childish” at times, but as the dean of students, he’s been “amazing.”
Another parent of a student shared a letter written by his son, which cited injury-related pressure within the football program.
Other community members defended the coach, expressing their support and preaching his ability to encourage and inspire.
"He helped me in some of my weakest moments and I cannot express my gratitude for him," a former Climax-Scotts student said.
Another community member said: "We're facing this situation today despite countless supportive testimonies on behalf of his performance, character and positive impact on the students and community here at C-S. This process should be cause for major concern within this community."
Many speakers addressed the need for transparency from the school board - perhaps the most omnipresent topic during the meeting.
Community members expressed concern over the duration of the investigation and questioned the school board's communication.
"Dragging this out helps no one," one community member said. "Resolve it."
Following a lengthy closed-door session with an attorney, the board took no action on Langs' employment status.
However, according to News Channel 3, Climax-Scotts Superintendent Doug Newton did confirm that the district has finished its investigation and continue to work with its legal team in making a final decision.
Langs attended Monday's meeting, something he was granted permission for, but is not allowed to be on school grounds while on paid leave.
Per Channel 3, the district won't make a decision on Langs' employment at its next scheduled meeting on Jan. 19, but Newington left the door open to a possible decision at the following meeting.
That date has not been released yet.
Langs has served as Climax-Scotts' athletic director since 2021, and became the school's head football coach in 2022 after Hall of Famer Kevin Langs, Tyler's father, stepped down after a 23-year tenure.
A 2006 Climax-Scotts grad, Tyler Langs was Centreville’s head football coach and athletic director from 2017-20 and was Plainwell’s head football coach for one season before being hired at C-S.
Tyler Langs is also the dean of students at Climax-Scotts.