In the biggest move yet for USA-Swimming towards the transparency much desired by the swimming community, USA-Swimming has released a list of 46 names of coaches who have been banned for a variety of offenses under the official coaches code of conduct.
The biggest name on the list is former National Team Director Everett Uchiyama, whose offense was listed as “sexual misconduct.” Uchiyama began with the organization as National Team Coordinator in 1999, moved up to interim National Team Director in 2002, and became the full-fledged National Team Director shortly before the 2004 Olympics. On January 31, 2006, Uchiyama was suspended from the program for “sexual misconduct” which is defined by the code of conduct as “any sexual conduct, advance or other inappropriate sexually oriented behavior or action directed towards an athlete by a coach.” or “any nonconsensual physical sexual conduct, or pattern of unwelcome advances or other sexual harassment in connection with or incidental to a USA Swimming-related activity.”
Although the list went into no great detail, a breakdown of the 46 members went as follows: 36 for sexual misconduct or sex-related offenses, 2 were for fraud, deception, or dishonesty, 2 for unspecified felonies, 1 for illegal drugs or substances, and 5 for unspecified offenses. The 5 unspecified cases either happened before the statutes were enacted, because no part of the code of conduct applied to their offense, or because details were unavailable.
This is an important step for the organization that has had difficulty proving to the public that they are committed to the transparency and openness that has so long eluded the issue within the organization. Some other big names on the list include Andy King, who has been a sort of figurehead for the issue. Although I still don’t feel as though the problem is as widespread as some news outlets have made it seem, USA-Swimming is definitely beginning to help itself, and all of us swim coaches, by taking steps to prevent the issue.
The list that USA-Swimming released is below:
Keith Anderson; Tennessee; Feb. 10, 2006; Sexual misconduct
Charles Arabas; Arizona; Feb. 18, 2003; Sexual misconduct
Bryan Artel, Illinois, Sept. 29, 2005; Illegal drugs or substances
Aaron Bartleson; Colorado; April 22, 2009; Not listed
Steven Bowman, Wisconsin; Oct. 10, 2007; Inappropriate sexual behavior
Thomas Burt; Ohio; Oct. 9, 2008; Felony
Robert Caragol; Florida; Feb. 13, 2009; Sexual misconduct
Kevin Chapman; Ohio; July 16, 2008; Sexual misconduct
Simon Chocron; Florida; Oct. 8, 2001; Sexual misconduct
Ross Clay; Massachusetts; April 2, 2010; Inappropriate sexual behavior
Joshua Delcore; Illinois; June 11, 2001; Sexual misconduct
Lincoln Djang; New Mexico; Jan. 7, 2000; Sexual misconduct
Alvin Drury; California; Nov. 8, 2002; Sexual misconduct
Michael Ferguson; Connecticut; Aug. 22, 2003; Sexual misconduct
Rogello Gallardo; California; Oct. 31, 2008; Sexual misconduct
Bernard Gynan; Virginia; Jan. 28, 2003; Sexual misconduct
Darek Hahn; California; Dec. 5, 1991; Not listed
Brian Hindson; Indiana; April 4, 2008; Sexual misconduct
Craig Ivancic; Kansas; Nov. 28, 2004; Sexual misconduct
Matthew Jefferis; Pennsylvania; Aug. 30, 2002; Sexual misconduct
Timothy Kelly; Massachusetts; Oct. 17, 2009; Sexual misconduct
Jeremy Kemeny; South Carolina; Feb. 10, 2003; Sexual misconduct
Andrew King; California; July 23, 2009; Sexual misconduct
Donald King; Oregon; May 11, 2009; Inappropriate sexual behavior
Jason Michael Lear; Florida; Jan. 15, 2010; Inappropriate sexual behavior
Jason Lytle; California; March 31, 2004; Sexual misconduct
David Margheim; South Dakota; Dec. 12, 2007; Fraud, deception or dishonesty
Donald McHugh; Illinois; Oct. 12, 2004; Sexual misconduct
Diana Molker; Kentucky; Feb. 6, 2008; Fraud, deception or dishonesty
Douglas Northway; Arizona; July 22, 1998; Not listed
James Pooler; Arizona; Aug. 20, 2008; Sexual misconduct
Michael Pridemore; South Carolina; April 23, 2004; Inappropriate sexual behavior
Alan Rogers; Wisconsin; July 1, 2005; Sexual misconduct
William Roggenbihl; California; July 11, 2000; Sexual misconduct
William Scandalis; California; Nov. 17, 1999; Sexual misconduct
Robert Scheiring; North Dakota; July 23, 2009; Sexual misconduct
John Schwerzler; New Jersey; Dec. 1, 2004; Sexual misconduct
Jesse Stovall; California; Oct. 15, 2009; Inappropriate sexual behavior
William Tinsley; Florida; July 21, 2008; Sexual misconduct
Everett Uchiyama; California; Jan. 31, 2006; Inappropriate sexual behavior
Jeffrey Vernace; Missouri; April 11, 2005; Sexual misconduct
Christopher Wheat; Indiana; Dec. 8, 2009; Sexual misconduct
Brian Williams; California; Feb. 19, 2009; Not listed
Jeffrey Woodyard; Virginia; Sept. 22, 2008; Sexual misconduct
Scott Woolsey; Vermont; July 22, 1998; Not listed
Michael Wullschleger; North Carolina; Oct. 22, 2008; Felony
