MANISTEE COUNTY, MI – A former assistant track coach is facing nine felony charges for allegedly using his position of authority to solicit sex from students, state Attorney General Bill Schuette said Friday, Feb. 28.

Tyler Groenwald, 20, of Bear Lake, was a track coach at Onekama Middle School. He also volunteered with the Bear Lake cross-country team.

Groenwald is charged with four counts of accosting children for immoral purposes, a four-year felony, four counts of using a computer to commit a crime, a seven-year felony and distribution/promotion of child sexually abusive materials, also a seven-year felony.

Schuette said the investigation by local police began last year when a former student-athlete coached by Groenwald filed a complaint that Groenwald tried to solicit sex from him.

The student said Groenwald also asked that nude photographs be sent by text message.

The investigation, by Manistee County Sheriff’s Department, state police and Attorney General’s Office, showed that Groenwald “ sexted” several students, including those he coached and others he met through older siblings, Schuette said.

He said that “predatory conduct” had happened for more than a year.

The alleged victims attend three high schools in the Manistee County area, authorities said.

“It took tremendous courage for the students to come forward and we applaud them for potentially preventing additional children from becoming victims,” Schuette said in a statement.

Onekama schools fired Groenwald during the investigation. The schools say the criminal conduct did not happen during school hours, or when Groenwald was working or volunteering. The alleged conduct did not happen on school premises.

Groenwald was released after posting 10 percent of a $25,000 surety bond in Manistee District Court.

He has a probable-causing hearing on March 19 before Judge Thomas Brunner.

Schuette said students who have had contact with Groenwald of a sexual nature, including text messages or social media, can call his office at 313-456-0180.

John Agar covers crime for MLive/Grand Rapids Press E-mail John Agar: jagar@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ReporterJAgar