Cal Fires, swim coach Teri McKeever, charged with misconduct

The school said in a statement that longtime UCLA women’s swimming coach Teri McKeever was fired Tuesday after an investigation into alleged harassment, bullying and verbal abuse.

McKeever led the Golden Bears to four NCAA team titles in 29 years. She coached the U.S. women’s swimming team at the London 2012 Olympics, becoming the first woman to hold the position.

California director of athletics Jim Knowlton wrote in a letter to the team and athletic staff that the independent law firm’s investigation report detailed “multiple violations of university policy prohibiting discrimination based on race, national origin, and disability.” … The report also details verbal abuse that runs counter to our most important values.”

Knowlton said the 482-page report substantiated many of the allegations of unacceptable behavior and said that “in the best interest of our student athletes, our swim program, and California Athletics as a whole,” the program parted ways with McKeever.

The investigation followed a Southern California News Group investigation in May that said McKeever “was allegedly subjected to verbal and emotional abuse, cursed and threatened swimmers on an almost daily basis, forced athletes to compete or train while injured or suffering from chronic illnesses or eating disorders.”

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