BUCYRUS, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—The Wynford School District is facing a difficult situation as former volunteer coach Chad Eugene Garberich, 39, has been arrested and is currently held at the Crawford County Jail on serious charges, including rape, sexual battery, and tampering with evidence.
Superintendent Forest Trisler addressed the situation in an exclusive statement to Crawford County Now, revealing that the district was notified by the prosecutor’s office on December 27, 2025, regarding “outside of school concerns” related to Garberich. Trisler emphasized that upon receiving the notification, the district acted swiftly to prohibit Garberich from participating in any school activities or accessing school grounds.
“All of his background checks were completed before the season and came back clean. We had no reason to suspect any issues,” Trisler stated. He assured the community that the district has cooperated fully with the prosecutor’s office and law enforcement throughout the investigation, and Garberich’s involvement with the program was terminated immediately upon learning of the allegations.
Trisler also reiterated that these allegations are not connected to any Wynford students or athletes, stating, “This issue and the allegations are outside of school issues.”
As of now, Garberich has not appeared in court. Garberich’s arraignment will be on Wednesday, April 29, 2026. Crawford County Now will continue to monitor this developing story and provide updates as more information becomes available.