A prominent Downriver youth soccer coach has been suspended from participating in a wide range of organized athletics after a national sports misconduct watchdog group found he engaged in an intimate relationship with a minor.
Kyle Lesperance, the former Grosse Ile High School varsity girls soccer coach, exchanged thousands of texts with a girl he coached on club teams, starting in 2023 when she was 12 years old, her family said. A police report obtained by The Detroit News shows that the texts got increasingly personal and flirtatious, sometimes continuing late into the night.
"It changed her completely. She was my silly, free-spirited child," her mother said. "It took away her innocence."
A police investigation yielded no criminal charges, but a suspension was issued Oct. 22 by the U.S. Center for SafeSport, an independent nonprofit organization, according to information it posted on its website. It said the suspension, for an "intimate relationship − involving a minor," is subject to appeal.
The group was authorized by Congress to prevent and respond to abuse and misconduct in Olympic and Paralympic sports, including investigating and resolving allegations of misconduct and child abuse.
The group's electronic communication code bars direct contact between a coach and player unless another adult is copied on the communication. Its misconduct policy bans intimate relationships where there is a power imbalance. It defines an intimate relationship as a "close personal relationship... that exists independently and outside of the sport relationship. Whether a relationship is intimate is based on the totality of the circumstances" and "includes consideration of grooming behaviors."
The organization said the suspension applies to all activities overseen by any governing bodies under SafeSport's jurisdiction, which includes more than 50 national governing bodies representing Olympic and Paralympic sports, along with their affiliated local organizations. SafeSport declined to detail the length of Lesperance's suspension, but the girl's family said they were informed it is for three years.
The suspension applies to participation in events, such as coaching, but does not bar his attendance at events.
Lesperance, who abruptly resigned from coaching the Grosse Ile High School team in January 2025, around the time police opened their investigation into his interactions with the player, did not return several messages seeking comment.
The Detroit News has a general policy of not identifying minor victims of sensitive crimes. The girl's mother spoke only on the condition of anonymity to protect her identity.
What the police report shows
Brownstown Township police opened their investigation into Lesperance in early 2025, after the family brought them a trove of text messages between him and their daughter.
Between June 2023 and December 2024, the coach exchanged thousands of messages with the girl, who was 12 and 13 at the time, while Lesperance was 31. Michigan has no standalone grooming offense and officers found insufficient evidence to pursue criminal charges.
"It seemed to be quite an unusual relationship," wrote the officer who investigated the case, "and according to my training and experience as a police officer, it would be consistent with 'grooming.'"
Conversations initially centered around soccer but grew increasingly personal. According to a detective's review, Lesperance repeatedly called the girl his “bestie” or “bff,” discussed her fears, favorite foods and other personal interests.
Some exchanges had a flirtatious tone. In January 2024, Lesperance called the girl his "gf" before sending a follow-up text saying the remark was a typo. When she asks if it really was a typo, he replied, "The gf? You'll never know."
The coach and young player would also play mobile games against one another, and their conversations sometimes continued late into the night, including one exchange that extended until 2 a.m., according to the police report.
Police also documented a discussion about three wishes, during which Lesperance talked about wanting to be a teenager again. He subsequently left a note in her backpack, saying his wish was to be 15- or 16-years-old for 24 hours during two summer events at which they would presumably be together.
The report shows that Lesperance later apologized for the note, saying he did not want to “creep” her out.
On Dec. 18, 2024, the girl told Lesperance he was “messed up.” He apologized and said future conversations would be limited to soccer.
Her parents learned about the messages on Dec. 26 and contacted police in January 2025.
What the family says
The girl's mother said her daughter and Lesperance exchanged at least 3,843 text messages over the 1.5-year span. That equates to seven messages per day, every day.
She said her daughter did delete a few messages after Lesperance instructed her to do so and that police were unable to recover the content of those messages.
"We have no idea what was in them," she said. "She promised there was nothing sexual."
Lesperance had coached the girl for around eight years, starting when she was a small child. Her family said the she greatly respected and admired her coach. In addition to running the youth soccer program, he coached Grosse Ile High School from 2012 until his resignation, including back-to-back state final appearances.
"They all idolized Kyle," she said. "He was the soccer coach Downriver."
What the suspension entails
A SafeSport spokesperson said the agency does not publicize information about its investigations. It also does not publicize the length of its suspensions.
An email from a SafeSport official to the girl's mother indicated that, unless the decision is overturned through arbitration, Lesperance's suspension will likely be in effect for three years.
As of Thursday, Lesperance remained listed as a coach for a soccer team for girls under age 14 in Chaos, a Downriver-based youth travel soccer club for which Lesperance has served as director of coaching and youth development.
SafeSport's suspension listing notes that the findings against Lesperance are not final. SafeSport allows individuals to challenge disciplinary decisions through an appeals process.
mreinhart@detroitnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Downriver soccer coach suspended for 'intimate relationship' with minor