Indiana University Coach Mike Westphal Arrested, Charged With Intimidation

Indiana Hoosiers coach Mike Westphal was arrested last week and charged with intimidation. IU’s school newspaper the Indiana Daily Student reports that Westphal is accused of intimidating a former Indiana athlete who now works as a local swim coach.

Indiana court records show that courts ordered an arrest warrant against Westphal on August 30th. He’s charged with intimidation, a criminal misdemeanor. The specific state law listed is 35-45-2-1(a)(1), which references “a person who communicates a threat to another person, with the intent that the other person engage in conduct against the other person’s will.”

The Indiana Daily Student reports that Westphal is accused of threatening a fellow swim coach during a meeting about a club merger. Westphal met the other coach – who is an Indiana University swimming alum – at a restaurant to discuss the merger of Btown Aquatics and Indiana Swim Club, per the Daily Student. Westphal is on the Board of Directors for Indiana Swim Club.

Update: in a report by The Indy Star, the coach has been confirmed to be IU alum Max Irwin, who now coaches for Btown Aquatics. The Star reports that Irwin recorded the conversation where Westphal allegedly threatened him.

Westphal allegedly told the other coach that he has “control over the coaching career” of that other coach, and could “be an asshole, is ruthless and would squash him.” The Daily Student reports that Westphal held a prior “lawful act” over the coach.

Westphal was released on bail.

Indiana gave the following statement: “Indiana University Athletics has been made aware of the incident involving Indiana University associate head swimming coach Mike Westphal. IU Athletics will continue to gather facts and take further action as it deems appropriate.”

210
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

210 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
OG Prodigy
4 years ago

Any update on what Ray is going to do with the staff? New hire? Pay a volunteer?

ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT JONATHAN
4 years ago

“ARRESTED. CHARGED” My first thought was “dang, man, another sex scandal”. I was actually relieved to read the underlying offense. The whole truth may never be known, certainly not by me, but bullies can leave a really sour taste. It’s kind of refreshing for someone else to get back at a bully for all the ones I let slide. Still, I’m glad it wasn’t another terrible scandal that happens all too often. (I feel comfortable saying all this behind my anonymous name. uhh … JONATHAN)

jesi
4 years ago

he deserves it. definitely

Observational Comedic Relief
4 years ago

Can you imagine if Cody Miller did a vlog about this incident in the same tone and manor he makes his other vlogs. Just visualize him doing that for a second and tell me you’re not laughing you’re a** off.
Based on the information we have, I’m a little confused as to how we got to this point. I wanna know what Max said to him. I’m guessing the conversation went something like this-
*at a local Bloomington diner (the best place to record verbal crimes)*
“hey mike, do you wanna merge club team and build a Bloomington, IN swimming empire?” (And I wanna put empire in many quotes)
Westphal- “IF YOU ASK ME THAT AGAIN,… Read more »

Snarky
Reply to  Observational Comedic Relief
4 years ago

Manner. Manor means large house.

Afever
Reply to  Observational Comedic Relief
4 years ago

#WowIUeducazion

Marklewis
4 years ago

Why do some coaches adopt an aggressive or “intimidating” style of coaching or interacting with their athletes?

These days, many athletes just feel disrespected by that attitude or treatment. Swimmers at the top programs are usually hard-working and motivated already and don’t want a coach tearing them down or making them feel bad.

(G)olden Bear
Reply to  Marklewis
4 years ago

Eddie Reese: “When I was recruiting someone who chose another school, it was important to keep them as a friend and root for them anyway.” “Take care of yourself, take care of each other, and the rest will take care of itself”.

Words that some college coaches could learn from.

Jillian
Reply to  (G)olden Bear
4 years ago

Words that each one of us here need to take to heart..

RenéDescartes
Reply to  Marklewis
4 years ago

Ego.

OLDBALDIMER
Reply to  Marklewis
4 years ago

Eddie’s book “Coaching Swimming Teaching Life” required reading for all swim coaches!

Swimnerd
4 years ago

I wonder what Irwin said to him

Elmo
4 years ago

Been about 24 hours since I saw this article. No idea when the original ran. In this day n age 24 hours is about the limit for IU to put out a meaningful statement, not just “we are looking into it”. Time to either back Mike, fire him, or minimally put him on leave.

Jillian
Reply to  Elmo
4 years ago

I’ve heard that he is on leave

Midwesterner
Reply to  Elmo
4 years ago

He’s been fired

No class
4 years ago

Quite a staff they have there in the last 6 months. Mike-accuses of a crime, Corey-ousted at UA bc of sleeping w another coach, all the athletes knew, he was married, Coley-hottest of hotheads. Ray is actually a good guy and Jonty maybe the nicest guy in the sport. Can’t imagine what that deck was like w Coley and Mike.

Ray is that you?
Reply to  No class
4 years ago

“Ray is actually a good guy”

either Ray wrote this or you have never actually met Ray Looze

James Beam
Reply to  Ray is that you?
4 years ago

You are 100% correct. Ray is not a good guy. He’s a great guy. The bashing of Ray needs to stop now. He’s a family man. Terrific coach and an even better person. Clearly you have not met Ray. Proud to know Ray and his family for many years.

Kandis Looze
Reply to  James Beam
4 years ago

Thank you!

RenéDescartes
Reply to  No class
4 years ago

What about Mark Hill? That guy didn’t last long at IU.

Swim lover
Reply to  No class
4 years ago

Side note. I grew up swimming with coley. Not sure on his persona now but people who didn’t know him thought he was an arrogant ass and the people who knew him best knew him to be hilarious and a softy. Perception vs reality.

Natas
Reply to  No class
4 years ago

Talk about no class. Ray is far from a good guy. Corey’s personal life has no bearing on his ability to coach. Coley is a passionate coach and great guy, and Jonty seems a bit egotistical for my taste. As for Mike, this sounds like it was a long time coming.

About Jared Anderson

Jared Anderson

Jared Anderson swam for nearly twenty years. Then, Jared Anderson stopped swimming and started writing about swimming. He's not sick of swimming yet. Swimming might be sick of him, though. Jared was a YMCA and high school swimmer in northern Minnesota, and spent his college years swimming breaststroke and occasionally pretending …

Read More »