Parents and colleagues sent supportive messages to Olentangy Liberty High School head baseball coach Ty Brenning shortly after The Dispatch reported that most of his varsity baseball team was suspended for violating drug and alcohol policies during a trip to Georgia two months ago , for which he was responsible guidance.
But Brenning also received a formal complaint from at least one parent, saying he and his assistants failed to supervise the athletes during spring break at a sports camp.
Public records obtained by The Dispatch include a parent saying Brenning’s critics are probably angry “about game time or something,” and that the kids drinking in their hotel room every night after practice and scrimmage games were solely responsible for their behavior.
“The kids made the decision to do it. This is what’s wrong with the world… people find ways to blame others for what is ultimately their responsibility.”
But at least one formal written complaint against Brenning — designed to protect a student’s name under federal privacy laws — called the trip to Georgia an “incredible disappointment for everyone involved” and placed the blame squarely on Brenning.
The district has released few details about the trip and no explanation for Brenning’s departure before the end of the trip, apparently to attend an event with his school-age daughter in Ohio. The parent complainant said Brenning breached his duty to supervise and care for the student athletes and never informed the parents he was leaving.
“I expect that when I turn my son over to the school and staff, there will be a level of protection and supervision. My son was not safe in the care of Ty Brenning, nor was he supervised.”
The parent said his son told him that students were checked a total of three times during the weeklong trip to the LakePoint Sports complex in Emerson, Georgia, including checks of two beds.
“Such a lack of supervision could result in one or more children ending up in the hospital or worse,” the complaint said.
Several parents previously told The Dispatch that students drank alcohol every night and that one student overdosed on cannabis gummies and was taken to a hospital in Georgia. Fourteen Liberty High School students were suspended during the month of May for violating the drug and alcohol policy, according to the district. As many as five others received playing suspensions. The district declined to say whether the school suspensions were related to the trip to Georgia, citing concerns about student privacy.
The Liberty Patriots lost seven straight games after returning to Columbus, but rebounded when varsity players returned. They recently captured the Division I District title and have an 18-12 record.
On May 2, when The Dispatch requested Brenning’s discipline, the district released a warning letter to Brenning on April 24 admonishing him for his “self-reported” angry behavior during an unrelated team meeting — not for the trip to Georgia that a parent described as “a drunken drug party.”
Timothy “Ryan” Jenkins, the Olentangy school treasurer in charge of records requests, later explained that Brenning’s formal warning document did exist, but he had not found it.
The letter was later released, revising the earlier warning to Brenning, who signed it on May 3. That warning included details of the trip to Georgia and scolded Brenning for being irresponsible. He was ordered to receive advice.
A supportive parent asked Brenning if he had seen the Dispatch story, saying, “I just hate it because of the program” and adding, “It’s hard to read.”
A parent responded to Brenning: “Yes, we have a group that remains strong. We have your back. Keep doing what you’re doing!”
Brenning responded, “I’m doing well. As long as we have parents like you repeating the good, that’s all we need! Thank you for supporting us!”
And a fellow baseball coach assured Brenning that he had his unconditional support.
“I just wanted to text you to let you know that I’m thinking of you and that I’m here if you ever need anything.
‘I don’t know the whole story and I don’t need to. But I do know that as a man you have more character and integrity than how they tried to portray you in that Dispatch article.”
The parents’ complaint against Brenning contradicts this: “A baseball coach must be a leader and a mentor, inspiring greatness and turning boys into real men. Ty Brenning fails at all of these things.”
“I don’t believe we start a discussion like this when a tragedy occurs,” the parent said. “We need to take action when there are warning signs. These are the warning signs.”
The district would not comment on the emails or whether there was an ongoing investigation into Brenning or his aides.
dnarciso@dispatch.com
This article originally appeared in The Columbus Dispatch: Olentangy School District emails mixed up about Liberty HS baseball coach
