It appears Jeff Myers has coached his final football game at Kingfisher High School.

That’s according to the settlement between Kingfisher Public Schools and Mason Mecklenburg that has been agreed to by both parties.

According to the filing posted to the federal PACER court system on Tuesday, the district has agreed to not renew Myers’ extra-duty contract “at the end of its current term or at any point in the future.”

Myers also will be barred from coaching any other sport at KPS at any point in the future, according to the agreement.

It states Myers cannot fulfill any of the extra-duty assignments for the remainder of the current contract as well.

The agreement specifi es that the terms do not apply to Myers’ teaching contract.

Mecklenburg sued the school district, Myers and three other football coaches in July 2021, shortly after graduating from KHS. He alleged a culture of hazing, bullying and abuse within the football program.

The civil case was set for federal jury trial next month, but the two parties came to an agreement to settle the case just over a week ago.

Myers’ attorney, Joe E.

White, stated neither he nor Myers were made part of the settlement negotiations, which were handled by Eric Janzen of the Rosenstein, Fist & Ringold law firm that represented the school district, as well as Mecklenburg’s attorneys.

“I do not want to criticize the school board for their decision to settle. They’re obviously under a lot of pressure here,” White told the Times & Free Press. “However, coach Myers was not a participant in any purported settlement negotiations nor was he ever consulted.

“As we informed the school district’s attorney after the settlement was announced, Coach Myers has a liberty interest in his good name. So, the fact that he was not a party to this settlement is a violation of his Constitutional right to protect his good name.”

Superintendent David Glover told the Times & Free Press: “The board did what it felt was best for the entire school district.”

The agreement filed Tuesday confirms the terms told to the Times & Free Press last week, including the $5 million payout to Mecklenburg as well as the district implementing mandatory training for all staff and board members in regards to identifying, responding to and preventing, hazing, bullying and sexual harassment.

Of the $5 million, the district will pay $1.25 million from its general fund by Feb. 13, 2024.

The remaining $3.75 million is to be paid with interest over a three-year period out of the district’s sinking fund, which means the district’s property owners will pay for it through an ad valorem tax hike.

Figures provided to the Times & Free Press last week by the county’s accounting firm estimated a 12 percent increase for county property owners to pay the balance of the judgment plus interest.

The training program has to be approved, administered and monitored by an independent third party, mostly likely the Oklahoma State School Boards Association, according to the settlement agreement.

Although the settlement agreement was announced shortly after a Kingfisher Board of Education special meeting that was held on Nov. 13, the board has not voted to accept the specific terms. Superintendent David Glover told the Times & Free Press that it will be on the agenda of the next regular meeting, which is Dec. 4. The agreement also states that Mecklenburg will dismiss all claims against KPS, Myers, current football assistant coach Derek Patterson and former assistants Blake Eaton and Micah Nall, all of whom were defendants in the lawsuit. The Times & Free Press reported those terms in the Nov. 19 edition. What wasn’t made public at the time the agreement was announced was the future coaching status of Myers, who is currently on paid administrative leave after being charged with a felony count of child neglect in Kingfisher County District Court. That charge stemmed from an Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation inquiry that began after the allegations were made in Mecklenburg’s civil suit; but Mecklenburg is not the alleged victim named in the criminal case. By law, Myers cannot teach or coach while the felony charge is pending. Myers has pleaded not guilty to the charge and his next court appearance is Jan. 2, 2024. White is adamant Myers also should be able to defend himself against the allegations in the civil lawsuit. “This case needs tried to a jury in a courtroom. Not the press. Period,” White said. “My hope is that there’s still a chance that will happen.”

The Oklahoma State Department of Education also announced it had opened an investigation into the allegations, but has not released findings.