Cal hired a longtime head coach for women’s swimming and diving Teri McKeever on administrative leave following explosive allegations of verbal and emotional abuse by current and former athletes on Tuesday. The Orange County Register released a report following an investigation by the South California News Group that found at least six Cal athletes have considered suicide since 2018 due to McKeever’s alleged abusive behavior.
Around 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time Wednesday night, Cal issued a statement in which the athletic director Jim Knowlton revealed McKeever was placed on administrative leave. The move came after Knowlton held a meeting with swim and dive team members where he updated them on the decision. “As reported, these allegations go against our core values and the expectations we have of every employee in our department. As the person entrusted with the welfare of more than 1,000 athletic students, coaches and staff, I have no greater responsibility than making sure we’re doing the right things in the right ways,” Knowlton said in part. He would also go on to say that the athletic department intends to respond to “anyone” who gets in touch and that they are making resources available to members of the program in need.
This SCNG report found that nineteen current and former Golden Bears swimmers, six parents, and one member of the men’s swim and dive team claimed McKeever had verbally and emotionally abused their athletes “for decades.” Allegations of abuse made by these athletes range from verbal abuse and abuse of the swimmers (“lazy”, “worthless”, etc.) to insulting a swimmer, Danielle Carter“pathetic” after learning of an incident that left Carter contemplating suicide.
After the report was released Tuesday, “a majority” of Cal swimmers walked out of practice Wednesday morning. Swimmers were told they have a team briefing Wednesday morning, according to the Orange County Register, which says they spoke to four people familiar with the situation. When the swimmers surfaced, McKeever reportedly asked if they were “ready to swim,” then read out a “basic” explanation. Afterwards, OCR reporter Scott Reid said that “a majority” had left the practice.
The Orange County Register reports that McKeever is under investigation by the US Center for SafeSport, according to emails received.
McKeever has been the head coach of the Cal women’s team for the past 29 seasons and was the head coach of the 2012 US Olympic team and has served on the Team USA coaching staff for 2 additional Olympics and 7 World Championships. She is considered by many to be the most accomplished coach in swimming history.
On vacation with McKeever, newly hired assistant coach Jess Moore will likely have to act as interim head coach of the women’s team. Moore was hired in mid-April and has therefore only been on campus with the Golden Bears for a few weeks. Moore is the only other swim coach currently serving on the women’s program, along with McKeever.