Notre Dame Launching External Review of “Culture” Issues In Men’s Swim & Dive Program

The University of Notre Dame has hired a law firm to conduct an external review of its men’s swimming & diving program after the school was informed of “potential issues with the culture” within the team.

According to an email obtained by Sports Illustrated‘s Pat Forde, Notre Dame Athletic Director Pete Bevacqua informed all of the school’s athletics staff of the review on Tuesday after meeting with the program.

The law firm Ropes & Gray LLP will conduct the review, which is expected to be finished around the end of August, according to Forde. Paulita Pike, the managing partner of the law firm’s Chicago office, was named to the University of Notre Dame Board of Trustees in 2022.

“I believe it is important that you are aware of this matter and the steps being taken to ensure a fair and complete review,” Bevacqua said in the email.

“We are working closely with outside counsel, University officials and Head Coach Chris Lindauer and his staff to take the proper actions as thoroughly and expeditiously as possible.

“We take seriously our obligation to foster a community of student-athletes who not only compete and perform at the highest level academically and athletically, but whose conduct is exemplary in all aspects of student life.”

The news comes just days after the Fighting Irish had a phenomenal showing at the U.S. Olympic Trials, as Chris Guiliano became the program’s first Olympic swimmer after he won the men’s 100 freestyle and was the runner-up in the 50 free and 200 free last week. In qualifying to race the 50, 100 and 200 free individually at the Games, Guiliano became the first American male to do so since Matt Biondi in 1988.

A rising senior at Notre Dame, Guiliano’s performances led Irish head coach Chris Lindauer to be named one of the assistant coaches on the U.S. Olympic team staff.

The long course breakthrough for Guiliano comes on the heels of a standout collegiate season for the Notre Dame men, finishing 2nd at the ACC Championships behind NC State and then placing 10th at the Men’s NCAA Championships, both program bests.

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Quit driving the problem
3 months ago

How about swim swam quit putting out content like this because it’s already a dying sport. Why not just mind own business and try to uplift the sport rather than having all this negativity around it 24/7 all athletics teams mess up everywhere around the country, and I promise you, when there is an “internal conflict” within them it’s get stopped and settled right there. No need for all this drama. It’s college everyone does something stupid and they should be held accountable period. No need for this nonsense

Admin
Reply to  Quit driving the problem
3 months ago

oooooh ok, my bad.

Coach
Reply to  Braden Keith
3 months ago

Braden … apparently, the author of the original post ascribes to the “just shut up and swim with your head down” ethos of reporting.

Steve Nolan
Reply to  Braden Keith
3 months ago

First time I’ve seen a pin applied to a comment passive aggressively.

This Guy
Reply to  Steve Nolan
3 months ago

I kinda view this more the just aggressive side lol. I’m here for it

Genevieve Nnaji
Reply to  This Guy
3 months ago

Glad I’ve restocked my popcorn 🍿

This Guy
Reply to  Quit driving the problem
3 months ago

Can’t we all just pretend everything is perfect!

What are you 7 years old? This is a swimming news website and yes that means having to deal with grown up issues sometimes.

swimapologist
Reply to  This Guy
3 months ago

This is actually what we need Swimswam for. The Kyle Sockwells of the world, the toxic positivity crew, are great for the sport, they create hype. But without Swimswam doing the hard work (and taking a LOT of shots to the chin I’m sure because of it) the ecosystem for people like him to thrive wouldn’t exist.

When journalists just ‘left swimming alone,’ USA Swimming had a pedophile on their management team. Don’t forget that.

Kyle Sockwell
Reply to  swimapologist
3 months ago

I actually told Mel this same thing almost verbatim in Indy. People hate SwimSwam, but I’ve long defended their existence as a necessary pillar in the existence of our sport.

swimapologist
Reply to  Kyle Sockwell
3 months ago

I’m glad to hear you acknowledge this, Kyle, because it’s important work that you can’t do while you’re travelling on USA Swimming’s dime and airing on their channel. IDK if you’re allowed to be critical of them, but my guess is you’re not – but I think you know deep down that some critique is necessary.

Most of the people I hear hating on Swimswam are people with power who want to maintain their control over the narrative of the sport. The base of the sport seems to love them as far as I can tell.

Kyle Sockwell
Reply to  swimapologist
3 months ago

In every conversation and contract I’ve worked on with USA Swimming, I have made it crystal clear that I will not filter my thoughts to them directly or to my audience. Just because you don’t see a large volume of content from me that is critical towards them, doesn’t mean they aren’t hearing it from me.

swimapologist
Reply to  Kyle Sockwell
3 months ago

Not that I meant to start this debate with you, but by definition, they sent you to Trials, they run your comment on their platforms, they give you super special extra access…

Aren’t you willing to admit that this compromises your ability to criticize them, even subconsciously?

Kyle Sockwell
Reply to  swimapologist
3 months ago

What super special access are you referring to? I had the same media credential handed to me as everyone else at Trials and my content being run on their platforms has zero impact on my thoughts and feelings towards them as an organization.

This Guy
Reply to  Kyle Sockwell
3 months ago

You’re a content creator (a great one btw) and SwimSwam is a news site. Why people would compare the two is beyond me but each serve vastly different purposes.

Entgegen
Reply to  Quit driving the problem
3 months ago

Tell Pat Forde first 😂😂

This Guy
Reply to  Entgegen
3 months ago

Scoreboard

I_Said_It
Reply to  Quit driving the problem
3 months ago

I guess it’s all rainbows and lollipops where you are huh?

Katie
Reply to  Quit driving the problem
3 months ago

“Let’s stop talking about abuse because it might paint the sport in a bad light and it’s already dying.” No, the abuse is what paints the sport in a bad light and the toxic culture of swimming is a huge part of why the sport is dying.

It's Jess!
Reply to  Quit driving the problem
3 months ago

Uhhhh….transparency is never bad.

We need an independent news authority to report on stuff like this.

As a parent, the main thing I was super worried about was my swimmer ending up in a toxic situation.

Bob
Reply to  Quit driving the problem
3 months ago

This mentality is what kept mitch ivey in the coaching game, multiple decades after he should’ve been removed from the sport.

HVAC ed
Reply to  Quit driving the problem
3 months ago

“No need for all this drama”. Let’s apply that to reality….“Everyone does things in college.” Good grief real life monsters under the bed.

Ranger Coach
Reply to  Quit driving the problem
3 months ago

So a legitimate news website dedicated to swimming should not write articles about the news relating to swimming?

If you are looking for uplifting articles, I suggest the SwimSwam article on viewership being up 21% (or whatever the exact number was) for the Trials that just concluded last week. You could also look at the article about Regan Smith calling her shot or the awards for Trials.

Leavingonthetop
Reply to  Quit driving the problem
3 months ago

Because the ‘uplifting articles” aren’t as popular as the “drama” ones. Just like the “real media” lmao

YGBSM
Reply to  Quit driving the problem
3 months ago

307 downvotes as of June 30 – deserved of course – Braden, is that the record?

ADNC
3 months ago

Leave the damn team alone bruh maybe it’s just me but something always happens it feels like all the time something happens to push the sport back in some way at some level maybe dramatic but I feel bad for the kids just tryna swim at Notre Dame the teams getting better has potential and coaching staff seems to be doing a pretty good job it’s a very annoying timing why don’t these investigations ever happen to Football Baseball Basketball i promise you “investigate the culture” of some of these teams you’ll find plenty to get at but of course the money makers are gonna be exempt. It’s just what we should expect at this point. Swimming & Diving teams… Read more »

Swammer
Reply to  ADNC
3 months ago

You ever heard of punctuation?

ADNC
Reply to  Swammer
3 months ago

You have to have something better to do than correct punctuation on a SwimSwam comment.

Mike
Reply to  ADNC
3 months ago

it probably took them longer to read through your original post than it did to say “try punctuation”

JimSwim22
Reply to  ADNC
3 months ago

It’s always nice to be able to read something and understand it the first time through. That’s why punctuation exists.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man
3 months ago

Quite simply put, ever since this new staff was hired after the failure of a coaching staff led by Mike Litzinger, the culture has only gotten stronger and better. It’s very apparent that the culture is better because of our results skyrocketing the last two years. Chris, Trevor, Josh, Kelsie, and Cam have developed an extremely inclusive, welcoming, supportive, and fun but disciplined atmosphere that has led to the great success and bonding the team has developed. To all of the haters who have blame on the coaching staff, they have done nothing wrong. All they have done is bring pride to the Notre Dame swimming and alumni community and I have witnessed that myself. To all of the people… Read more »

Slow Down

Yes.

This Guy

I hope you’re right. If it was a coaching issue they probably would have said the staff is under investigation and not just team culture. Perhaps the staff was unaware of past issues.

Hopefully this gets cleared up and it’s not a complete debacle

Jeff

Aged like milk

swammer
3 months ago

From what I’ve been told about ND’s swim team by a sibling who attended there, ND’s swim team is big on partying. So whether hazing involved is yet to be seen, but I’ll bet that serving alcohol to minors and recruits is involved.

Last edited 3 months ago by swammer
Slow Down
Reply to  swammer
3 months ago

Nope. Speaking from experience. Wrong.

This Guy
Reply to  swammer
3 months ago

This is pretty standard across most programs but recruits drinking should be a thing of the past. A lot of teams really ensure that doesn’t happen primarily due to legal ramifications should something happen when a recruit is under your care.

Wetwork1977
3 months ago

DEI garbage

Admin
Reply to  Wetwork1977
3 months ago

What?

Garbage Yardage
Reply to  Braden Keith
3 months ago

Unless you were being rhetorical Braden – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. But I’m not tracking with the comment.

Last edited 3 months ago by Garbage Yardage
Admin
Reply to  Garbage Yardage
3 months ago

I just don’t understand the connection.

Genevieve Nnaji
Reply to  Garbage Yardage
3 months ago

What does DEI have anything to do with this case?

Noah Fence
Reply to  Wetwork1977
3 months ago

Somebody come get their uncle he’s had too many drinks and is saying weird shit again

Slow Down
3 months ago

Literally no one knows what this is about. Staff and the University knew about this weeks ago. They didn’t look too concerned at Trials.

This Guy
3 months ago

Obligatory, make weed legal and just let them eat chips and play video games on Saturday nights!

The Michael Phelps Caterpillar
3 months ago

I don’t trust lawyers.

Slow Down
Reply to  The Michael Phelps Caterpillar
3 months ago

The verbiage sounds to me like this is the university vs. some athletes and the coaches were/are not involved.

Saul Goodman
Reply to  The Michael Phelps Caterpillar
3 months ago

What do you mean? Justice matters most!

This Guy
3 months ago

Sooooo no one has any idea what this is really about?

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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