BERKELEY, Calif. – Longtime University of California women’s swimming coach Teri McKeever was fired Tuesday following an investigation into alleged harassment, bullying and verbally abusive behavior, the school said in a statement.
McKeever led the Golden Bears to four NCAA team titles in 29 years. At the London 2012 Olympics, she became the first woman to coach the US women’s swimming team.
Cal athletics director Jim Knowlton said in a letter to team and athletic staff that an investigative report by an independent law firm “listed numerous violations of university policies prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, national origin, and disability… The report also details oral abusive behavior.” that goes against our core values.”
Knowlton said the 482-page report substantiated many allegations of unacceptable behavior and said it was “in the best interests of our student-athletes, our swim program and Cal Athletics as a whole” that the program separate from McKeever.
The investigation followed an investigation by the Southern California News Group in May that said McKeever “allegedly almost daily verbally and emotionally abused, verbally abused and threatened swimmers, pressured athletes to compete or train while injured or struggling with chronic illnesses or eating disorders”. ‘