A Marine City, Michigan, father is speaking out against the East China School District after his son, Anwar, attempted to take his own life following months of alleged verbal abuse by a high school football coach.
Jeremy Miles delivered a powerful speech to the school board, accusing Coach Darren Letson of repeatedly calling students derogatory names and belittling players during practices and games.
Miles described watching his son come home crying after football practices for weeks before the situation reached a breaking point.
In December 2023, Anwar was found unresponsive and rushed to the ICU. While his son was still hospitalized, Miles reached out to Marine City High School principal Ms. Becker and the athletic director to report what had been happening.
What followed, according to Miles, was a series of dismissals and empty reassurances from school officials.
Miles said a meeting with administrator Ms. Cybulla in January left him feeling brushed off. She reportedly told him that bringing the matter to the school board would not make a difference.
By April, she told Miles that appropriate action had been taken but refused to share any details. It was only after Miles hired a lawyer and obtained recordings that he says he discovered nothing had actually been done.
“Every day that Mr. Letson remains around children, you are taking a risk,” Miles told the board. “My son attempted to take his own life because he could not take the bullying anymore.”
Anwar survived but now lives with permanent disabilities. Miles says he helps his son shower, get dressed, and eat every single day. Anwar will never play football again and may never live independently.
Miles, a 20-year Army veteran, told the board he spent his career fighting so children could grow up safe, never imagining the real threat would come from inside his own community.
Community Reacts With Outrage as More Stories Surface
The post quickly gained traction on social media, with dozens of community members sharing their own experiences with the district. Many expressed frustration that the school continues to allow Letson to coach.
Deni Campbell Buckley wrote:
“There is a difference in a coach that is tough and demands hard work than one that calls you derogatory names and belittles you. Mr. Letson is on one hell of an ego trip. He may be feared but certainly is not respected.”
Deni Campbell
A former ICU healthcare provider who treated Anwar commented under the name InspiringLlama5477:
“I just so happened to be one of the healthcare providers for your son while in the ICU. It makes me sick. He has not changed one bit. He was never a teacher.”
InspiringLlama5477
Vaida Crampton added,
“No school system should allow or support a coach who uses bullying and degrading words to knock them down and make them tough. They can only cover this stuff up for so long till it happens again.”
Vaida Crampton
Laurie Gardner, who said she resigned from Marine City and transferred to Anchor Bay, shared the post directly with the school board and its attorney.
Miles ended his speech with a direct warning to board members: “If nothing changes, the next child’s blood will be on yours.”
