, is now a corporate lawyer in New York. 1. I am not sure exactly what happened so I can only speak on my experience. The publicity that follows the athletic success of some teams, well, thats for other sports. One student said in an interview with The Sun that he felt betrayed by UMBC. That, combined with the transfer to UMBC and her respect for Cradock and his coaches, has made her a better swimmer. Chad was the head coach of the men's & women's swimming & diving teams at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) for 19 years. On the national level, Donovan was awarded the 2013 YMCA National Coach of the Meet honor for the Long Course Championships held in Atlanta, Georgia. Sullivan, Zach Be a part of the solution, not the problem. His dedication to the sport earned Chad a scholarship on the University of Maryland Baltimore Countys mens team in which he competed as a long-distance freestyle swimmer. The former coach allegedly touched numerous male swimmers in their genitals, investigators found. As usual, Burkot's men's and women's teams are doing well. He swam with UMBC from 1993 to 1996 and still keeps in touch with some from the program, especially when he makes it back to campus. When a young person becomes a member of the Retriever Aquatic Club, he/she learns the values of sportsmanship and team work. From 2015-19, Donovan served as the head counselor of the Salo Swim Camp and as a volunteer with the Trojan Athletic Club at the University of Southern California. UMBC also has a chance for two others to earn spots in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Cradock resigned abruptly in December 2020, weeks after hed been ordered by the university to have no contact with student-athletes and stay off campus, documents show. Building a solid environment to compete, thats for this program, and its. Cradock reportedly touched numerous male swimmers in their genitals, investigators found, with witnesses and victims describing a pattern in which he would ask the swimmers to touch his shoulder or take their temperature for COVID protocols and use his other arm to assault them. How do you know there is a 7 page doc? So, whats the secret to this powerhouse squads success? When you walk into the pool area, you see all the banners, and you would think thats just decoration if you didnt see all the hard work we put in each and every day, Wright says. For junior economics major Sotia Neophytou, who came to UMBC this year from Cyprus (a 30-hour trek to Catonsville), the family spirit shined especially bright around the holidays. The LIU women also produced eight individual Northeast Conference champions from 2016-20, including the leagues Most Outstanding Swimmer in 2019-20, and broke two long-standing conference records. There is a very real phenomenon where people who are pondering suicide see other suicides and the outpouring of love and beatification drives them into the same. In the roughly two hours on Tuesday since UMBC had announced Pete Caringi Jr.'s plan to retire as the school's men's soccer coach on April 1, Caringi's phone had been flooded with more than 50. Originally from Barrie, Ontario, Chad came to UMBC on a swimming and diving scholarship. He made the decision for everyone that they wouldnt see their day in court. When she competed in the 100 butterfly on August 6she still remembers the dateshe said, with a smile, my dad came to see me, [and when] I found him, he was still crying. Trias, Niklas Donate Organizer and beneficiary Donna Helms Chad was like a second father to me and one of the greatest men Ive ever meet. These athletes are scared. He was tabbed as the New Jersey All-Star team coach in 2003 and 2004. Chad, you helped shaped the person I am today.Read more , To those people not directly involved in the cases/investigation question the right of those victims to speak up, and for those courageous kids (remember, most of the victims here are under 21 years old and college students age same as YOUR KIDS , Well, I/we wont back down No, I/we wont back down You can stand me/us up at the gates of hell But I/we wont back down No, Ill/well stand my/our ground Wont be turned around And Ill/well keep this man from draggin me down Gonna stand my/our ground And I/we wont back down, (I/we wont back down) Hey, haters, there aint no easy way out (I/weRead more . I dont know if I would have seen the same success or not [somewhere else].. The UMBC community was still reeling from accusations that their administration covered up sex crimes. Get your evening news in your e-mail inbox. The head swim coach of the Somerset Valley (N.J.) YMCA Swim Team, Donovan spent 15 years with the team, overseeing the growth of the program from 46 swimmers to well over 500 participants when he left in 2014. Hey SwimCoachPsychologistspeaking peer to peer as Im also a psychologist, you should know better than to weigh in on a situation where you dont have first exposure or interface with the issue. UMBC has won four of the past six America East womens titles and the past four mens titles. Its fine to argue, but dont invalidate someone elses experience with elementary logic . But the investigators the university hired wrote that only documents they relied upon were attached, without addressing whether any others existed. The Retriever swimming and diving teams have dominated America East Conference competition during their time in the league. He also ran into other former Retriever swimmers recently at an event that UMBC hosted in New York City at the One World Observatory. Rest In Peace Chad. Investigators from Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr, the law firm that did the investigation for UMBC, did not respond to a request for comment. Neophytou swam for her home country at the Olympics in Rio three years ago and said it was an amazing experience. swimswam.com Former UMBC Head Swim Coach Chad Cradock Dies at 47 Chad Cradock, who left his position as the head coach of the UMBC swimming & diving team in December after 19 years, has died. Laracuente, Anders Gliese received the same honor on the mens side and was named Most Outstanding Swimmer. 2021-2022 Practice Schedule & Coaching Assignments Join your RAC teammates and Swim Across America Consider joining Team Racing Against Cancer (RAC) at the 9/19/21 Swim Across America event to help raise money to fund cancer research and support our friend and teammate, Garrett Brown. The Sharks just concluded the 2020-21 season and the inaugural men's team took second place overall, while the women finished third (highest in program history). This is a year-round gig for the coaches, who often arrive on campus at 6 a.m. and stay until 7:30 p.m., with six to eight more hours on Saturday, plus other work on Sunday. Especially given that all of us were part of the same UMBC swim and dive family at one point or another. This is about swimming.. Neophytou, the third Retriever to make the Olympics, said her UMBC teammates often pick her brain about what it was like to swim there, and getting that rare opportunity improved her self-confidence. Its called affirming a disjunct and its why this either/or logic is silly. Chad graduated in 1997 and decided to remain a Retriever, coaching with both the Retriever Aquatic Club and as the assistant swimming and diving coach at UMBC.  He was then appointed head coach in 2001 and spent 19 years leading the programs.  Chad was best known for his big smiles, jovial laughs, and unconditional love and support to those whose lives he touched.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations in Chad’s name to a charity of your choice. A private Celebration of Life service will be held at a future date. 

. Cradock, who was 47 at the time of his death, was the head coach of the swimming & diving team at UMBC for 19 seasons, having begun his tenure back in 2001. Baltimore, Md.- Brandt Nigro joins the UMBC Swimming and Diving staff as an assistant coach for 2014-15, head coach Chad Cradock announced this week. [UMBC was] the big story last year.. Central to her complaint is Chad Cradock, a longtime UMBC swim coach who died by suicide in March 2021 amid a widening investigation into allegations he inappropriately touched male swimmers,. He was then appointed head coach in 2001 and spent 19 years leading the programs. The firm has billed UMBC $328,992 since January 2021 for its services on this investigation, according to the school. Terms of Use & Privacy Policy | FTC Disclaimer The mens team has earned 13of the 15America East Championships overall since the conference reinstituted mens swimming and diving as a championship sport in the winter of 2018. To the victim making up FAKE NEWS- STOP; Stop what you are doing right now. We are well-respected internationally. He received his bachelor's degree in social sciences from KSC and went on to earn a master's in education from the University of Phoenix in 2004. On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, they do weights from 6:15 to 7 a.m., then swimming drills, kicking technique, and recovery (7 to 7:45 a.m.). If we were in Australia, swimming would be the number one. became the head swimming and diving coach in 2001. realize is the grind the Retrievers endure to find all of their success, Cradock says. Humans are imperfect creatures by nature, capable of making great accomplishments and great mistakes alike. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. We do it because we love it, Cradock says. It is currently unclear what UMBC is facing regarding the Justice Departments Title IX investigation, though its possible a monetary settlement will be reached along with mandated improvement measures, like those instated in the recent case at San Jose State. Comments unavailable on mobile. . Investigators also found that Cradock created a hostile environment based on sex within the team, alleging his failure to report things such as sexual misconduct, assault, stalking or relationship violence. It isnt fake news. We saw this after, for example, Anthony BourdainsRead more . Super interested in those details. Meanwhile, swimmers told investigators that Cradock was disengaged with the womens team, according to the reports summaries of interviews. Coaching with Cradock now are Chris Gibeau 93, biological science; Nikola Trajkovic 18, financial economics; and Elyse Gibson-Clegg 06, sociology, along with diving coach Petar Trifonov, all of whom work to create an environment where the swimmers and divers feel at home and are comfortable throughout the daunting schedule swimming requires. SwimSwam knows where the line is. He became head coach in 2001, bringing with him a philosophy that emphasized the coaches working with the student-athletes and not dictating to them. Our thoughts and hearts go out to Christie, Amanda, Geoffrey, and CJ. Chad is amazing, and he knows what hes doing. Believe it or not, Chad was a human being, just like the rest of us. Oana Brooks, an attorney for Cradock, declined to comment for this story and said his family didnt wish to be interviewed. Donovan, Patrick Cleary you know nothing about mental health to even make a ludicrous comment like that regarding suicide. In the roughly year and a half since, the investigation has continued as student-athletes have grieved and grappled with Cradocks death and misconduct. Sorry for those kids and sorry for his family. The women's squad has captured four of the past six titles, including a resounding victory in 2019. Retriever Activities Center 1000 Hilltop Cir, Baltimore, MD 21250. The Navy women's team (3-1) defeated UMBC (0-3) by the score of 153.5-122.5 and the Navy men's team (4-0) won a 163-115 decision over the Retrievers (0-3). We offer all levels of training, from beginner diving lessons to summer prep to elite Junior Olympic training. Former UMBC coach Chad Cradock has died, the team was told in a meeting on Sunday evening. We know this is an especially difficult time for his family and our swimming and diving community, and we extend our heartfelt condolences. James Sutherland | September 12th, 2022. Both are within range to qualify and will be spending plenty of time this year focusing on that goal. You made an effort with me and helped me grow up. He stated that the incident started from a statement being taken out of context and assumed to indicate a threat. They need something to do, and I would think that a few words from a swimmer or two would be all it would take. The mission of the Retriever Aquatic Club is: to develop Champions in Swimming and in Life while creating a safe and positive learning environment. And that they know better and are smarter than legal professionals hired by the university to investigate for over 2 years that spoke to coaching staff, former athletes, current athletes, and university employees AND the US Department of Justice? Growing up at UMBC, so to speak, the team has become a second family for Cradock. There are still people to this day in this comment section who are discounting the reports that were made. According to the 105-page final report, six male swimmers that were interviewed reported being touched in the genitals or buttocks. Its a culture all its own. View Desktop Version, Students in need of grief counseling or emotional support can contact the, at 410-455-2472 on weekdays, 8:30 a.m. 5 p.m., or the after-hours support line at 410-455-3230. Nikola Trajkovic Coach Nik comes to Meadowbrook from UMBC where he swam on the men's swim team, and coached for three years afterwards. UMBC is also under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education relating to a sexual violence report, though its unclear if that relates to the swim team and Cradock. Wright won gold in 1 meter and 3 meter dives and was named Most Outstanding Diver of the Meet, while Cradock and his coaches were named the mens and womens Coaching Staff of the Year. the Matt Skalsky Outstanding Scholar-Athlete award as a senior. Per the report, Chen had arranged to meet with a . 2023 Swim Swam Partners, LLC. The University of Maryland, Baltimore County police department received a call from UMBC Athletics at 12:01 p.m. today saying a threat had been made against members of the athletic community. Likewise, many people can be unaware of these happenings while for others, it shaped their entire experiences. And those of you who say you are defending the truth. Nutile and Matter Each Toss Shutouts as Softball Wins a Pair on Saturday. Theres a lot of respect out there for our program [world-wide], Cradock said. Students told university officials that Cradock inappropriately touched male swimmers, discriminated against female members of the team and mishandled Title IX reports, according to the Baltimore Sun. Will that ever be released? Chad graduated from St. Josephs High School in Ontario, Canada in 1992. His dedication to the sport earned Chad a scholarship on the University of Maryland Baltimore County’s men’s team in which he competed as a long-distance freestyle swimmer. Gliese set a school and conference record for the 200 backstroke (1 minute, 42.56 seconds in a preliminary race) and later took home a gold medal in the event. The basketball program and school received a deluge of publicity from all around the country after that. The investigators deemed the allegations were sufficiently serious for it to continue. at NJIT Invitational. The Justice Department declined to comment for this story. There is no additional information to display. Reports by female swimmers especially were not taken seriously by Cradock, the report said. Miller says that he remembers his swimming days at UMBC where there were just about a dozen swimmers on the team.

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