Have some compassion. Skills such as teamwork, self-confidence, perseverance, tenacity, facing fears, as well as physical and mental strength are nurtured and cultivated while learning differentand more difficult dives at every level and cheering on teammates throughout the process. He took over the mens program as well when the university added the sport in the spring of 2020. 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. Take your anger elsewhere, get professional help; your life matters too. Its possible the investigation could lead to a monetary settlement and mandated improvements, like a recent probe into San Jos State University in California. Gassmann, Luke 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. Men's Swimming and Diving. Elijah Wright , a diver from Baltimore, says the Retriever swimmers and divers put in the foundational hard work to find their success. The UMBC mens basketball team shocked many and generated a huge amount of publicity when they beat Virginia 74-54 in the first round of the NCAA basketball tournament in March 2018. And theyve done this largely without the fanfare received by more popular sports. When a young person becomes a member of the Retriever Aquatic Club, he/she learns the values of sportsmanship and team work. Chad Cradock, who left his position as the head coach of the UMBC swimming & diving team in December after 19 years, has died. I didnt go home for Christmas, but Chad invited me to his house, and I spent an amazing Christmas there, she says. The investigators deemed the allegations were sufficiently serious for it to continue. The Sun also says that swimmers have been interviewed by U.S. Department of Justice civil rights investigators looking into the university and if it complied with federal rules barring gender discrimination in education. 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). 66 [UMBC was] the big story last year.. How do you know there is a seven page document spelling everything out? I guess you never really know what the true story is. I felt powerless to do anything about it, one swimmer told The Sun regarding Cradocks harassment.. Moro also earned the Dave Alexander Coaches Award, for the senior who gets the most points during the meet. My heart goes out to his poor wife and children who I pray are able to make it through this horrible tragedy. He was 47 years old. His tenure as the programs head coach ended in December after a leave of absence, with the school having announced the move as both a retirement and a resignation.. Indoors all year and outdoors, from April to November, where you will grow as a swimmer. Nikola Trajkovic Coach Nik comes to Meadowbrook from UMBC where he swam on the men's swim team, and coached for three years afterwards. He stated that the incident started from a statement being taken out of context and assumed to indicate a threat. 2) Turning a man who took his own life into a martyr is dangerous. We provide you four massive print issues designed to sit on your coffee table like a piece of artwork. Coaching with Cradock now are. For years, the UMBC swimming and diving team has been quietly winning its way into university history. Chad came to UMBC as a student athlete in 1993 and earned his . Power dynamics, the backlash you may receive when reporting, and the potential that no one will believe you. 2023 Swim Swam Partners, LLC. Moro is trying to represent Egypt there while senior mechanical engineering major and Meyerhoff Scholar Alexander Gliese hopes to make it with Denmark, the country he was born in before growing up in nearby Howard County. That means team shout-outs on birthdays and creating spaces where athletes can talk with coaches on a regular basis about problems in swimming, classes, and life. Swimmers also spoke of how Cradock created a one-way funnel where the athletes would only bring issues to him, not upper university officials. The behavior was minimized around the team by referring to this behavior as just Chad., I felt powerless to do anything about it, one swimmer told The Sun regarding Cradocks harassment. The Sun, which interviewed five swimmers for this story, is not naming students who say they were sexually assaulted or other students cited in the report, which was supposed to be confidential, for privacy reasons. He also created a perception, they said, of being close to top school officials. Haniawho has fallen in love with bagels while at UMBC and wants to open a bagel store when she goes back to her home countryjust set the school record in the 1650 free at the America East 2018 title meet. Pavlou, Nicholas Its likely the Justice Department investigation will examine UMBCs response to allegations against Cradock and its investigatory process. Under Donovans lead, LIU womens swimming produced dozens of school records, and NEC and ECAC individual and relay championships in five seasons, but the most impressive has been the teams performance in the classroom. Hm ok thats very odd. What Was Buzzing at Last Weeks ASCA World Clinic in Vegas? Your negative remarks dont do anything other than cause more pain in this world and wont help you find peace. Its interesting and sad to watch criminal lawyers tear apart testimonies of young children who claim to have been violated. Places like the New York Times, Washington Post, and ESPN suddenly wanted to know not just what the letters UMBC meant, but everything about the basketball program and school. James Sutherland | September 12th, 2022. The swimmers and divers work through a long and tough regimen all season to earn those championship banners, something they all take pride in. Swimmers at University of Maryland, Baltimore County were sexually harassed by longtime swim coach Chad Cradock, a university investigation found. What can they do? Our mission is to teach athletes transferablelife skills through the sport of diving. , who came to UMBC this year from Cyprus (a 30-hour trek to Catonsville), the family spirit shined especially bright around the holidays. A lot of this was big time rumor mill kind of stuff, explained Dillon. No one needs to hear each others opinions. I understand that there is some energy to do something about it. Lashing out at those who disagree with you about Coach Cradocks legacy is not doing something about it. The Gold Club logo identifies Masters clubs and workout groups that provide members with the best Masters Swimming experience possible. 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. But it is NOT your Swim Swam call. 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. If Coach Cradock was not allowed to do what he wanted to you, he wasnt going to coach you, one swimmer said, per an interview in the report according to The Sun. According to a new report from the East Valley Tribune, Chen committed suicide just two days after he was arrested in a child prostitution sting. For more information on Aquatic services and programs, click here. Swimmers also questioned whether the university failed to properly respond to earlier complaints against Cradock. Way to use your credentials to self-aggrandize and speak waaaaay outside of your expertise. Cradock spent 19 seasons as the head coach of the men's & women's swimming &. In interviews, students described feeling left in the dark for much of the lengthy investigation on behalf of the university. Whitty, Jeff Moro broke the school record in the 1650 freestyle and won a gold medal in that event. All rights reserved. The Retriever Aquatic Club, founded in 1986, offers swimming programs, year-round, for swimmers of all levels of ability and interest. According to the 105-page final report, six male swimmers that were interviewed reported being touched in the genitals or buttocks. Baldwin called the UMBC report incomplete., It appears to have been limited in scope by UMBC to only the last couple years, said Baldwin, of the firm Baldwin Seraina. I think it has a lot of effect, and it starts with name recognition, Cradock said. Four days after receiving the amended notice, the university was told that Cradock had died by suicide. https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/more-women-come-forward-amid-umbc-baltimore-county-cover-up-allegations/. Chad graduated from St. Joseph’s High School in Ontario, Canada in 1992. Nikola Trajkovic Coach Nik comes to Meadowbrook from UMBC where he swam on the men's swim team, and coached for three years afterwards. He is bright and inquisitive and thoroughly understands the dynamics of a competitively successful team. A final investigative report, completed July 11 by attorneys from an outside law firm hired by UMBC, found Cradock engaged in sexual harassment and created a hostile environment, in violation of the universitys discrimination policy. 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. 

. The real victims here are the three children who will never see their dad again. Students in need of grief counseling or emotional support can contact the Counseling Center at 410-455-2472 on weekdays, 8:30 a.m. 5 p.m., or the after-hours support line at 410-455-3230. This man is deserving of praise by the folks who deem him praiseworthy. David Miller 96, economics, is now a corporate lawyer in New York. You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, or plant a tree in memory of Chad G. Cradock. Building a solid environment to compete, thats for this program, and its why theyve been so successful. One student said in an interview with The Sun that he felt betrayed by UMBC. View Full Bio, Tiago During that time you taught me to be a better team mate, friend and student. Within minutes, police responded to the call and determined that no threat had been made. As this is an open matter, Winnick wrote, it would not be appropriate for the University to provide additional details.. Gude, Ryan UMBC swimmers told The Sun that Justice Department civil rights investigators asked about the universitys communication during the investigation and any accommodations they were provided. 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. SwimSwam knows where the line is. In particular, the men's team has a. Dinah Winnick, a UMBC spokeswoman, said in an email the school is cooperating with the Justice Department investigation. Over time, citizens of many more Indigenous nations have come to reside in this region. He is a great fit for our UMBC community and I'm excited to connect a leader like Matt with the superb student-athletes we have at UMBC.. The Justice Department investigation is expected to examine UMBCs response to the allegations against Cradock, while swimmers are currently considering their options regarding any potential lawsuits. It isnt fake news. Believe it or not, Chad was a human being, just like the rest of us. Miller still holds the record for the 1,000-yard freestyle in the UMBC pool and was delighted to learn that the younger folks were aware of him. Donovan, who has extensive coaching experience at both the collegiate and club level, spent two seasons as an assistant on both the men's and women's side at the University of Connecticut. Students described their confusion and questions about the findings of the law firms report for UMBC. Both are within range to qualify and will be spending plenty of time this year focusing on that goal. The theme this year was Love It, Live It, Enjoy It, and we did just that.. This is what UMBC Swimming and Diving programs have achieved under the leadership of Chad and his staff. But I will say, this moment, for as brief it is, is not currently about you. 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. You along with these clowns passing judgement and making accusations without a single bit of publicly available evidence, is sickening. In becoming the 10th coach in program history, the 53-year-old Ferry brings 20 years of experience as a head coach at the NCAA Division I, II and III levels, compiling a 325-279 mark. The Retriever swimming and diving teams have dominated America East Conference competition since joining the league in 2003. What keeps them coming to the pool again and again? The student-athletes are wonderful representatives of the university and the alumni stay very connected. 2023 University of Maryland, Baltimore County. According to a. The only facts I am aware of are regarding his death are these: 1) Chad resigned abruptly in December after a leave of absence and UMBC supported this. Cradock and the team are enjoying their successes and the extra attention that comes with it. And, all I read into UMBC is that it likely did not take care of its athletes OR its coach its winningest coach during a time when vulnerabilities are high. Men's Swimming and Diving at University of Delaware October 8, 2022 11:00 AM. Gentle ripples of movement belie the engine propelling it powerfully beneath the surface. Even in Hungary, its very popular. The U.S. Department of Justice now appears to be looking into the UMBC investigation as part of its civil rights probe into the school's Title IX compl. Many people can have a positive experience with him while others had terrible ones. UMBC and the new AD Brian Barrio are at the root of the problem. After the 2015-2016 season, Cradock was named the CCSA Coach of the Year, and after the 2017-2018 season Cradock and his staff were named Coaching Staff of the Year in both seasons. In one 2018 situation described in the report, Cradock was made aware of alleged Title IX violations, including stalking and verbal abuse, by one of his swimmers. Building a solid environment to compete, thats for this program, and its. I will always love you Chad, Rest In Peace. Its all part of the game. Its probably tripled in one year the amount of people that reached out to the swimming program. He also ran into other former Retriever swimmers recently at an event that UMBC hosted in New York City at the One World Observatory. The LIU Sharks scored 1179.5 points as runners up, nudging ahead of third-place Monmouth University (1178). 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. We offer all levels of training, from beginner diving lessons to summer prep to elite Junior Olympic training. 2023 University of Maryland, Baltimore County. The team may have been presented with this award but everyone here at UMBC deserves a portion of it as well". The Retrievers certainly did what they planned for when taking the mens and womens team titles in the February 2019 America East championships in Worcester, Massachusetts. Henrickson, Samuel Just because you had a decent experience with him, doesnt mean that other did too. I dont think I can ever have a normal college experience.. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations in Chads name to a charity of your choice. There are still people to this day in this comment section who are discounting the reports that were made. To the victim making up FAKE NEWS- STOP; Stop what you are doing right now. Gold Clubs have a U.S. Masters Swimming-certified coach on staff, participate in fitness events, and offer a free trial to potential members, among many other benefits. Until that changes, no amount of procedural reform will make a difference.. In the fall of 2019, LIU had the fourth highest GPA in Division I womens swimming. at NJIT Invitational. Sometime later, he arranged a surprise meeting, forcing her to sit across from my abuser, she said. Even though I like your point that UMBC and their athletic department has let everyone down, I do believe swam swam isnt swim swam or representing them and so they arent involved in the discussion! The only fake news is you knowing what youre taking about. WEB EXTRA: Our photographer, Marlayna Demond 11, will do almost anything to get her shot even submerse herself and her camera. He then received a notice of investigation from UMBC on Dec. 24, 2020, and an amended version with two additional swimmers allegations on March 3, 2021, according to the Sun. Cradock swam at UMBC from 1993 to 1997, lettering all four years and earning the Matt Skalsky Outstanding Scholar-Athlete award as a senior. Chad is amazing, and he knows what hes doing. Swimmers also reportedly told investigators that Cradock was disengaged with the womens team, with a lack of attention at practices, less sympathetic treatment for injuries and different of team enforcement of team rules all mentioned in interviews in the report. Poulos, Ethan If we were in Australia, swimming would be the number one. She said when she told Craddock about the assault, which was later corroborated by a different Title IX investigation, he told her it was her fault and chastised her for messing with the other swimmers head. Even Cradock understands the deal and shrugs it off. Chapman, Christian Over time, citizens of many more Indigenous nations have come to reside in this region. Its a connection that goes far beyond the pennants and tailgating of other sports. Swimmers also said that Cradock would base his coaching on which swimmers would play along and participate in the unwelcome contact.. | Privacy Settings | Do Not Sell My Personal Information, Share Former UMBC Head Swim Coach Chad Cradock Dies at 47 on Facebook, Tweet Former UMBC Head Swim Coach Chad Cradock Dies at 47, Submit Former UMBC Head Swim Coach Chad Cradock Dies at 47 to Reddit, Share Former UMBC Head Swim Coach Chad Cradock Dies at 47 on Pinterest, Share Former UMBC Head Swim Coach Chad Cradock Dies at 47 on LinkedIn, His tenure as the programs head coach ended in December, Curzan Wins 3 More, Baylor Nelson Swims 1:44.4 200 IM on Final Day at Cary, Regan Smith Compares the 2020 and 2021 Olympic Years (Video). Several male swimmers also reported Cradocks hugs from behind while they were wearing just their Speedos, along with attempted kisses and unwanted touching of their stomachs or chests, the report said. You must be such a successful/good psychologist. For goodness sake who TF do you think you are to say that he should have consulted with his accusers before taking his own life. Chad graduated from St. Josephs High School in Ontario, Canada in 1992. They are also spending time together in the pool and staying connected as a team. Asakawa, Charles For whatever victims there are, I am really sorry for you, and I also hope that you are courageous enough to continue to speak out against whatever happened. There are now more than five times that many, but Cradock has worked to keep the big group close, as he believes that helps with the overall success of the teams. I hear yourRead more . Tags: Athletics, Spring 2019, swimming and diving. 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. A university investigation into University of Maryland, Baltimore Countys swim coach of nearly two decades began in late 2020 following several swimmers reports of misconduct. There is no indication of when the first complaint was made related to Coach Cradock.. UMBCs Title IX process prioritizes the schools reputation over student safety, Baldwin said, according to The Sun. Sad for the victims and hope they get the help they need to move forward. CoachDonovanand his staff were named the 2020-21 NEC Coaching Staff of the Meet for both the men's and women's championships. What is your credible source of proof for the statements you make? Sullivan, Zach They said they were confused by shifting points of contact and a change in how Cradocks actions were being examined. SwimSwam walking a fine line? We treat them the way we would want our kids to be treated wherever they went.. Theres a lot of respect out there for our program [world-wide], Cradock said. Final. 2) There was an ongoing Title IX investigation into potential wrongdoing. He made the decision for everyone that they wouldnt see their day in court. Originally from Barrie, Ontario, Chad came to UMBC on a swimming and diving scholarship. 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. It all continues into Saturday, a fact the swimmers understand and accept. 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 . As we learn more about the familys plans for remembering Chad, we will communicate them to you. The investigation continued in the time since, and a final investigative report was completed on July 11 by attorneys from an outside law firm hired by UMBC. Theres a seven page document spelling out everything that Chad did. What our countries dont have is an independent, safe, unbiased system for athletes to report abuse by coaches. Sorry for those kids and sorry for his family. Donovan saw great success while with Somerset Valley, leading the team to the New Jersey State Championship in 2006, and every year from 2010 to 2014. Investigators also found Cradock created a hostile environment based on sex by failing to properly report alleged Title IX violations involving members of his team, such as sexual misconduct, assault, stalking or relationship violence.