Plainwell youth football coach fired over past drug related convictions
PLAINWELL, Mich. — A Plainwell youth football coach blew the whistle on his own criminal background which led to his own firing and uproar in the community.
Former Plainwell Youth Rocket football league coach Shane Sears said he was recently fired for disclosing his criminal record after four years in the volunteer position.
The youth football league aimed at youths ages 5 to 12 did not require background checks until after Sears was fired.
"The director told us I was good to coach after I discussed my record," Sears said.
Sears told Plainwell Rocket Football director Seth Ranney he failed a criminal background check when he tried to coach his son's little league baseball team this spring.
Sears has 20 criminal charges on his record, including six felony charges in the past, mostly related to drug and property crimes, according to court records.
Sears was sentenced to three years probation following a 2018 methamphetamine possession conviction in Allegan County. He entered a meth diversion program, despite facing a possible life sentence in prison.
"That organization’s board made the difficult decision to not allow this individual to coach. As is the case in a lot of small towns this individual was also a volunteer in 2021 for Plainwell Rocket Football. We were not aware of this individual’s criminal history at the time in 2021," Plainwell Rocket Football's statement, said in part.
Sears began his coaching career in Plainwell in fall 2018.
"I started a whole a new life, I was allowed to coach, that helped my sobriety," Sears said.
Sears has been sober ever since and was assured he could still coach this fall, he said.
Days after sharing his background, Sears received a text from Ranney telling him he couldn't coach. The program said it got feedback from the coaching staff, player parents and community members, according to the Plainwell Rocket Football Facebook statement.
Plainwell Rocket Football said in a July 26 Facebook post it will be implementing background checks on any and all volunteers for current and future seasons.
Ranney declined to sit down with an interview with News Channel 3.
"We approach this change with safety of our participating children at the forefront of this decision. This is a change that was not taken lightly and was given a lot of thought and consideration," the Rocket Football statement, said in part.
The statement was signed by Ranney and Plainwell Rocket Football Players board of directors members Eric Jorgensen and Jennie Garner.
Ranney didn't specifically outline what type of criminal charges disqualified Sears or would prevent other parents from coaching in the future.
Ranney said the league uses processes adopted for the USA Football as guidance.
Sears posted a video of his firing on his Facebook page on July 23 in which he said, "I was told I couldn't coach anymore because I have a criminal record. My entire criminal history is because I spent most of my life on drugs."
In a follow-up Facebook post July 25, Sears played a voicemail he said indicated Ranney threatened to kick his sons off the team if he kept up social media posts about the firing.
"You have a few hours to take off the posts, brush it under the rug and just move on, man. If your posts are still up you'll be refunded and sayonara," Ranney said in the voicemail.
Ranney told News Channel 3 he would always allow the chance for Sears's children to play football.
Community members spoke out against the firing, including Dan Wierckz, a former Plainwell Rocket volunteer.
"What are we teaching our kids as a coach? Who cares if we dropped the pass, or fumbled the ball, we move forward," Wierckz said.
Ashley Schmitt, a Plainwell resident with two boys in the youth program said Sears was the only reason her boys played in the program.
"Shane has worked hard to turn his life around and worked hard to get to where he is. He's a good guy and I trust him completely with all my children," Schmitt said.
Plainwell Rocket Football is one of 14 community teams that make up the Kalamazoo Valley Rocket League.
Kalamazoo Valley Rocket League director Chuck Hadley said the league doesn't have oversight over the background checks for individual clubs.
Hadley said he planned to discuss the issue with the league's board of directors.
Hadley, the former Plainwell Rocket Football director from 2000 to 2020, said he never used background checks for coaches and volunteers.
"I had my finger on the pulse of the community and had people I can rely on to provide information," Hadley said.
Plainwell Rocket Football July 26 statement:
"Plainwell Rocket Football will be implementing background checks on any and all volunteers for current and future seasons. This will also include board members. We will be using JDP background software as many other directors already use this for their background checks. While we acknowledge this may/has upset some of our players families and volunteers, we feel that doing this is in the best interest and wellbeing of our players and families. If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to let us know.'
