Wayland High School boys’ and girls’ varsity cross-country coach Raymond Antel III is being forced to resign his positions because of state legislation.
Antel posted today on Facebook, “It is with heavy heart that I must resign from my XC coaching positions due to Michigan Legislation PA 184 (House Bill 4375) from 2021/2022. Although I am hopeful that House Bill 4752 (2023) will pass the Senate (allowing me to continue coaching), sadly, it will not happen until September.
“I am forced to resign, per ORS, due to my retirement from teaching at Kentwood Public Schools. I have met with our AD, Adam Valk, and he is already hard at work to find and hire a new head coach.”
He added that his wife, Mayor Jennifer Antel, has submitted her application in the meantime. She has been junior high track and cross-country coach at Wayland.
“I’m looking forward to volunteering and watching/cheering on (daughter) Elliot and all of her teammates!” He said.
Antel took over the reins of the Wildcat cross-country teams seven years ago when Steve Harcourt retired. Before that he coach the Kelloggsville Lady Rockets team that won the Division 3 state championship in 2000. At East Kentwood, his Lady Falcons finished third in the state Division 1 meet in 2008.
Antel turned in 13 years of coaching cross country at Kelloggsville and 11 years at East Kentwood.
He has coached the girls’ track team for the past nine seasons at Wayland. He also has been the heart and soul of the Wayland Road Runners summer “run for fun” group.
Coach was quoted as saying, “I’m looking forward to volunteering and watching/cheering on (daughter) Elliot and all of her teammates!” Mr. Antel better be careful because the ORS guidelines very clearly spell out that retired school personnel cannot even volunteer for nine months. If they do, they risk losing their entire pension.