CLIO, MI -- Todd Richards, credited with helping jumpstart the floundering Clio varsity football program, will not return as the coach next season.

Clio Schools administration chose Monday not to renew its yearly contract with Richards, a history teacher and former football coach at E.A. Johnson High School in Mt. Morris, sparking fireworks Tuesday at the district's Board of Education meeting.

"Through the evaluation process, it was an administrative decision not to renew his contract, and that was a decision I as building principal had to make," Clio High School Principal Michael Lytle told The Flint Journal on Wednesday, Dec. 17.

Lytle, citing a personnel matter, declined to disclose the factors that went into the decision.

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Word got around Tuesday and members of the football team, their parents and football boosters packed the Clio Area Schools Board of Education meeting. Eric Wood, vice president of the board, said several of the players spoke out against the decision and in favor of Richards, who helped lead Clio to a 3-6 season, its best year since 2001, and snapped the program's 37-game losing streak.

"It was all positive about Mr. Richards," Wood said. "The focus of their comments were geared around dispelling rumors that they had heard, but what we couldn’t discuss -- reasons for the non-renewal.

“We heard them very loud and clear, because we wanted to incorporate that into any decision we make in the future about our football program. The board has decisions to make about the football program, but the decision to hire and renew coaches is up to the administration.”

Richards was not present at the board meeting, and administration did not publicly respond to comments at the meeting.

Hired last spring to replace the outgoing Nate Taylor, Richards, a 1985 Clio High School graduate, and his players praised his offseason conditioning program that included daily lifting and weekly conditioning with a member of the U.S. Marines.

Clio won its first game in more than four seasons on Aug. 29, beating Mt. Morris 24-14, and started 2-0 for the first time since 1998.

"Our football season was excellent and really helped bring our community together," Wood said. "I think that our football team getting a sense of pride and getting some wins under its belt, and really drawing the community together around sports and athletics in Clio, was a really positive thing.”

Said Lytle: "The season for the athletes and those involved was a success for where we had been. To get the few wins and move forward that way was certainly a platform and a direction we want to head.”

Richards and Clio Area Schools Superintendent Fletcher Spears III did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment. Mt. Morris Consolidated Schools Superintendent Tricia Hill confirmed Wednesday that Richards is still an employee in the district.

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Aaron McMann covers sports for The Flint Journal. Contact him at amcmann@mlive.com; follow him on Twitter @AaronMcMann.