Football parents from Jackson tell us the scrutiny continues for the program director of the Jackson Bulldogs youth football team, Phillip Johnson.
Parents said they would still like to know where their fundraising money went to, and why the required league fees weren't paid up.
RELATED: Money for Jackson youth football team in question
Parents said that Johnson told them everything was paid for until they learned that wasn't true. They FOX 47's Alani Letang learned that those parents are not the only ones to accuse Johnson of wrongdoing.
The league Johnson was involved with last year, New Level Sports Ministry is suing him for theft of equipment.
The executive director for the New Level Sports Ministry, Christopher McCoy, is the one that has opened up that lawsuit against Johnson. McCoy said, "I did a civil suit against him, they have been trying to serve him and he's moving from place to place, so they cannot serve him." Before McCoy opened up that civil lawsuit against Johnson, he filed a report with the Battle Creek Police, they're seeking charges. The prosecutor's office hasn't made a decision yet.
New Level Sports Ministry is a faith-based organization and a league out of Battle Creek, Michigan that takes on youth groups from all over mid-Michigan. They said they provide a positive outlook on life through sports. In addition, they said they teach kids that it's not just about winning or losing but how you act on and off the field. "Football or sports period is just a means to an end, but most importantly we want them to have fun, sportsmanship, character building," McCoy said,
Mccoy said he met Johnson through a pastor in Jackson. And McCoy welcomed Johnson and the Bulldogs on board. McCoy said, "I think pastor Walker knew him and was trying to help him, so we went with Phil and that's how he became a part of the program."
Mccoy said Johnson wasn't involved with New Level Sports Ministry's league for long because complaints from parents started flooding in. McCoy said Johnson became too competitive and it was no longer about building up character in the kids. McCoy and parents said his sportsmanship was poor on the field, and he wasn't treating players with respect. McCoy described those events as, "It brought out the worst in him, we don't allow cursing on the sideline, you can't touch kids, you can't grab their face masks, you can't yell at a kid."
Michelle Little has three grandsons on the team and she is the coach's wife. Little said Johnson's attitude was highly unacceptable. "Actually at playoffs, my husband had to kick him off the field because he was out there swearing at the kids, told them they weren't going to Canton because they were worthless," said Little.
Although Johnson said he does not display that sportsmanship attitude on the field, he said he agrees he can be tough on players, but for their own good
"I won't yell at you for making a mistake. If you drop your head and beat your self up then I'm going to yell at you. Will I belittle you? no, will I curse at you? no" said Johnson.
Once the season ended, in October 2016, Mccoy and the New Level board said they decided their organization wasn't a right fit with Johnson's coaching style so according to McCoy, they told him he would not be allowed back. However, McCoy said he informed Johnson that the Bulldogs needed to return all of the New Level Sports Ministry's equipment and uniforms that were bought and borrowed to the Bulldogs.
