Tobin, Yassin Get your evening news in your e-mail inbox. A footnote on the reports final page stated it does not appear assistant coaches made proper Title IX reports, despite witnesses indicating they disclosed pertinent information to them. Stories from the College Athlete Experience promotes conversations about student athlete mental health, Woman, life, freedom: What the Mahsa Amini protests signify for Iranians, Time to Vote: New Ballot Box Installed in the Commons, Womens Center We Believe You discussions provide in-person support to survivors, Retriever Essentials serves UMBC campus food needs. But Cradocks leadership included misconduct, UMBCs outside investigators wrote in their 105-page final report. 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. Witnesses and victims described a pattern in which Cradock would ask swimmers to touch his shoulder or take their temperature for COVID protocols and then use his other arm to assault them. UMBCs Title IX process prioritizes the schools reputation over student safety, Baldwin said, according to The Sun. 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. 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. Especially given that all of us were part of the same UMBC swim and dive family at one point or another. Final. Swimmers in recent months also have been interviewed by U.S. Department of Justice civil rights investigators looking into the universitys compliance with federal rules barring gender discrimination in education. Familys read this, the victims read this, have some respect, Just paid the $1 to read the Baltimore Sun article the culture and behaviors described in that article sound eerily similar to the culture etc fostered by Cradocks mentor and predecessor when he was coaching HS before moving up to UMBC. The swimmers and divers work through a long and tough regimen all season to earn those championship banners, something they all take pride in. Elijah Wright , a diver from Baltimore, says the Retriever swimmers and divers put in the foundational hard work to find their success. Who knows whered I be if not for Chad. Harding, Will Oana Brooks, an attorney for Cradock, declined to comment for this story and said his family didnt wish to be interviewed. Likewise, many people can be unaware of these happenings while for others, it shaped their entire experiences. Power dynamics, the backlash you may receive when reporting, and the potential that no one will believe you. We know this is an especially difficult time for his family and our swimming and diving community, and we extend our heartfelt condolences. Its likely the Justice Department investigation will examine UMBCs response to allegations against Cradock and its investigatory process. 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! Malone, Jackie UMBCs Title IX process prioritizes the schools reputation over student safety, Baldwin said. That, combined with the transfer to UMBC and her respect for Cradock and his coaches, has made her a better swimmer. Places like the. 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. The team may have been presented with this award but everyone here at UMBC deserves a portion of it as well". UMBC Director of Athletics Brian Barrio named Matt Donovan to lead the mens and womens swimming and diving programs as the Retrievers head coach in March of 2021. Chad Cradock, who left his position as the head coach of the UMBC swimming & diving team in December after 19 years, has died. 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. Cradock and his wife Christie had 3 children. Under his direction, the men's staff earned 2021-22 America East Coaching Staff of the Year. I was a shy young girl who couldnt keep eye contact. UMBC Director of Athletics Brian Barrio named Matt Donovan to lead the men's and women's swimming and diving programs as the Retrievers' head coach in March of 2021. He was also the head coach of the Retriever Aquatic Club, where his children currently swim. Just because you had a decent experience with him, doesnt mean that other did too. Its probably tripled in one year the amount of people that reached out to the swimming program. Poulos, Ethan 16 seed beat a No. This brought us even closer because you gave me the opportunity to coach the swim camp. After graduating in 1997, he became an assistant swimming and diving coach and was appointed head coach in 2001. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Americans are always making things out to be black or white, that someone is either bad or good, wrong or right. Many of Cradocks swimmers stay in touch long after commencement, often giving back to the program as a way of showing their commitment. 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. 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. Cradock, 46, became UMBCs second-ever swimming and diving head coach in 2001 after swimming for the school in the 1990s and then serving as an assistant coach. One swimmer told investigators that if and when a swimmer made it known they didnt like Cradocks behavior, he would pretend like you were not there and would not coach you, the report said. The mens team won 10 consecutive conference titles from 2002-2011. He stated that the incident started from a statement being taken out of context and assumed to indicate a threat. 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. The women's squad has captured four of the past seventitles, including a resounding victory in 2019. 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. Women's Swimming & Diving Finishes Strong at America East Championships. How do you know there is a 7 page doc? Winnick, UMBCs spokeswoman, declined to comment on the investigations duration or its shift from a Title IX policy investigation to one considering discrimination policy violations. 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. Originally from Barrie, Ontario, Chad came to UMBC on a swimming and diving scholarship. Others disagree. There are three points I would like to make as I see this comments section spiral: 1) Lots of people who knew and loved Chad are grieving. Former Chandler High swim coach Bob Chen died by suicide Aug. 8, 48 hours after he was arrested in Mesa as part of a large East Valley human-trafficking sting that . 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. Theres a lot of respect out there for our program [world-wide], Cradock said. Great people can do questionable things, Horrific people can as well do life changing amazing things. I am not sure exactly what happened so I can only speak on my experience. Have some compassion. He also ran into other former Retriever swimmers recently at an event that UMBC hosted in New York City at the One World Observatory. UMBC has about 65 swimmers total on this years championship teams, and its a very diverse group with athletes from around the globe. And theyve done this largely without the fanfare received by more popular sports. You made an effort with me and helped me grow up. It is the first ECAC Winter Championship title for Columbia women's swimming. During that time you taught me to be a better team mate, friend and student. Cradock, who had been ordered by the school to have no contact with student-athletes and stay off campus amidst the investigation weeks earlier, abruptly resigned in December 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 . For more information on Aquatic services and programs, click here. All rights reserved. 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). 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 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. Dwyer, Oliver I trust him so much. We went up there to do our job and we did, Cradock said. 2022-23 Men's Basketball Single Game Tickets, 2022-23 Women's Basketball Single Game Tickets, Faculty/Staff/Student Basketball Single Game Tickets, 2022-23 Women's Basketball Season Tickets, TicketSmarter- Official Ticket Resale Marketplace of UMBC Outdoor Sports. It takes a lot for someone to step forward. Four days after receiving the amended notice, the university was told that Cradock had died by suicide. UMBC also has a chance for two others to earn spots in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Students told university officials that Chad Cradock inappropriately touched male swimmers, discriminated against female teammates and mishandled Title IX reports, putting students in dangerous situations, according to documents reviewed by The Baltimore Sun. Its called affirming a disjunct and its why this either/or logic is silly. the Matt Skalsky Outstanding Scholar-Athlete award as a senior. Chad is amazing, and he knows what hes doing. Its all part of the game. To the swim coach psychologist- what is VERY DANGEROUS is you pretending to be a professional. And year after year, the program broadens its family of alumni. The mission of the Retriever Aquatic Club is: to develop Champions in Swimming and in Life while creating a safe and positive learning environment. In the men's championship, UMBC scored 3,075.5 points to beat Long Island University by 1896 points. 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. I just told everyone to go home and take the day off.. 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. Coleman, Zach Retriever Activities Center 1000 Hilltop Cir, Baltimore, MD 21250. They swept the America East championships this past winter, claiming the 31st and 32nd titles for the Retrievers26 of which have come since Chad Cradock 97, psychology, became the head swimming and diving coach in 2001. There are multiple witnesses of a few specific swimmers asking alumni and teammates to lie about Cradock leading up to this lawsuit. Be a part of the solution, not the problem. Sorry for those kids and sorry for his family. He was one of the universitys most fiercely loyal employees. Sad for the victims and hope they get the help they need to move forward. UMBC also has a chance for two others to earn spots in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Are you part of the investigation team? So why did the swimmer feel powerless? 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. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Chad G. Cradock please visit our,

On Sunday, March 7, 2021, Chad G. Cradock of Odenton passed away. This is about swimming.. You guys are blaming them for his death. 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. Swimmers also spoke of how Cradock created a one-way funnel where the athletes would only bring issues to him, not upper university officials. 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. 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. Those are staggering numbers, but since swimming gets less attention than basketball and other big college sports in this country, the men and women on this team know the score. Moro broke the school record in the 1650 freestyle and won a gold medal in that event. You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, or plant a tree in memory of Chad G. Cradock. Growing up at UMBC, so to speak, the team has become a second family for Cradock. At LIU, Donovan started with seven womens competitors in the fall of 2016 and opened the 2020-21 campaign with 29. Dinah Winnick, a UMBC spokeswoman, said in an email the school is cooperating with the Justice Department investigation. According to a report from the Baltimore Sun, UMBC launched an investigation into Cradock in late 2020 after numerous swimmers made reports of misconduct. I made him proud.. 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. The attention seemed endless and that was all for just one game. Fisher, Meghan We know this is an especially difficult time for his family and our swimming and diving community, and we extend our heartfelt condolences. Four days after UMBC sent out the amended notice, the university received word that Cradock had died by suicide. Final. 66 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. Matt is an excellent choice to lead UMBC as they continue their recent successes, said Salo. Insane to me as a fellow America East swammer the UMBC swimmers always seemed to love their coach. The firm has billed UMBC $328,992 since January 2021 for its services on this investigation, according to the school. That UMBC has remained silent, to me, suggests all sorts of things. Frankly, I hold the university, UMBC entirely accountable. The investigators deemed the allegations were sufficiently serious for it to continue. 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. Murray, Bode Chad Cradock, who left his position as the head coach of the UMBC swimming & diving team in December after 19 years, has died. 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. In. Lets not let our emotions shape our arguments. The UMBC Event Center and stadium complex closed today after a threat was directed at members of the athletics community. 2023 Swim Swam Partners, LLC. We offer all levels of training, from beginner diving lessons to summer prep to elite Junior Olympic training. Bothteams earned CSCAA2021 Fall Scholar All-America team honors. We do it because we love it, Cradock says. Its not seen as popular of a sport, and thats the way America looks at it, Cradock says. Henrickson, Samuel To know about the death of the above name on winter, claiming their 31st and 32nd titles wins Gardner-Webb! Chad came to UMBC as a student athlete in 1993 and earned his . I spent four years swimming with you. He is a native of Serbia, where he was the Serbian National Champion (20 times) and national record holder in 200 and 400 meter IM. 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. Brooks had raised concerns about the investigation continuing after Cradocks death and without an opportunity for him to be interviewed. , who came to UMBC this year from Cyprus (a 30-hour trek to Catonsville), the family spirit shined especially bright around the holidays. If we were in Australia, swimming would be the number one. Asakawa, Charles There are still people to this day in this comment section who are discounting the reports that were made. Whitty, Jeff 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 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. Davenport, Jeff Mood, Diego Nicusan, Zacharias Your statements are inappropriate, hateful and heartless. The basketball program and school received a deluge of publicity from all around the country after that. The athlete plunges neatly into the water as if into another layer of air. UMBC Men's & Women's Swimming & Diving UMBC Men's & Women's Swimming and Diving, a member of the America East conference, aspires to be a nationally recognized Division I program that develops champions in athletics, academics and life, while building community wide traditions and pride. The team culture around Cradocks behavior was to minimize it as just Chad, according to swimmers interviewed by The Sun. Somebody says hey, its OK to have a bad day. Im still [getting better]. The UMBC Police chief said the department looked into an anonymous 2015 complaint against Cradock about a hidden camera in a locker, but could not find any truth to it. Chief Bruce Perry said that was the only criminal complaint or investigation by his department related to Cradock. The student-athletes are wonderful representatives of the university and the alumni stay very connected. Weigelt, Christopher He is bright and inquisitive and thoroughly understands the dynamics of a competitively successful team. 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. AttorneyRignal Baldwin V represents five of the six swimmers named in the report. The athlete plunges neatly into the water as if into another layer of air. Both Baldwin and an attorney representing a sixth swimmer said their clients were considering their options when asked about any plans to file lawsuits. 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. So, whats the secret to this powerhouse squads success? 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. BACK-TO-BACK or 14-OF-16, Take Your Pick, Retriever Men's Swimming & Diving are Champions Again! Cradock, 46, became UMBC's second-ever swimming and diving head coach in 2001 after swimming for the school in the 1990s and then serving as an assistant coach. 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 LIU Sharks scored 1179.5 points as runners up, nudging ahead of third-place Monmouth University (1178). Get all the top news and sports from the baltimoresun.com. Its a culture all its own. 2023 University of Maryland, Baltimore County. If that continued at UMBC, Cradock learned from the best. What? The UMBC program has a great national and international reputation and I am humbled to be a part of it, said Donovan.I am grateful to UMBC President Freeman Hrabowski, Athletics Director Brian Barrio, and the entire search committee for all of the time and energy put into this process.. 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. Miller says that he remembers his swimming days at UMBC where there were just about a dozen swimmers on the team. All rights reserved. There are a lot of degenerates out there, and its disconcerting how many find their way into our sport. Cradock swam at UMBC from 1993 to 1997, lettering all four years and earning the Matt Skalsky Outstanding Scholar-Athlete award as a senior. The Retriever swimming and diving teams have dominated America East Conference competition during their time in the league. Swimmers also questioned whether the university failed to properly respond to earlier complaints against Cradock. He also created a perception, they said, of being close to top school officials. What is your credible source of proof for the statements you make? 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. The former coach allegedly touched numerous male swimmers in their genitals, investigators found. Your country and my country both have the rule of law, due process and doctrines of innocent until proven guilty. Thank you for speaking up. hopes to make it with Denmark, the country he was born in before growing up in nearby Howard County. He worked under United States Olympic coaches Dr. David Salo and Catherine Vogt and helped prepare the Chinese National Team for the 2018 Asian Championships. UMBC was established upon the land of the Piscataway and Susquehannock peoples. The theme this year was Love It, Live It, Enjoy It, and we did just that.. He has coached two National Camps (2010, 2011) at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs and assisted at the USA Zone Select Camp in Baltimore in 2012. They swept the America East championships this past winter, claiming the 31, titles for the Retrievers26 of which have come since. Swimmers also said that Cradock would base his coaching on which swimmers would play along and participate in the unwelcome contact.. Coach Donovan was an integral part of my camp program at (USC) for many years. I understand that there is anger surrounding this death. In particular, the men's team has a. He also ran into other former Retriever swimmers recently at an event that UMBC hosted in New York City at the One World Observatory. Women's Lacrosse Pulls Away from Mount St. Mary's at Home, 15-10. Per the report, Chen had arranged to meet with a . I guess you never really know what the true story is. Gassmann, Luke Bennici, Max 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. Chad was no exception. A lot of this was big time rumor mill kind of stuff, explained Dillon. The outside investigators wrote that the allegations against Cradock were sufficiently serious for it to continue despite that. The women's squad placed second in both meets. Earlier that season, Donovan was named Coach of the Meet at the ECAC Championships, as he led the Sharks to a second-place finish. Logas, Collin I wonder why, if this account is true, there are only 5 current swimmers willing to speak against a coach that has been heavily involved in the lives of more than a thousand athletes over 20 years. Nikola Trajkovic Coach Nik comes to Meadowbrook from UMBC where he swam on the men's swim team, and coached for three years afterwards. at NJIT Invitational. Lolly, I completely agree with you. Born in Ontario, Canada, his love of swimming started as a child at Camp Chikopi in Magnetawan, Ontario. So, even if the university did have a Title IX office, students may have had reason not to trust them. He, along with the swimmers accusing him, 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. Its fine to argue, but dont invalidate someone elses experience with elementary . If Coach Cradock was not allowed to do what he wanted to you, according to a summary of the swimmers interview in the report, he wasnt going to coach you.. On Sunday, March 7, 2021, Chad G. Cradock of Odenton passed away. 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. I will always love you Chad, Rest In Peace. You spent time with me to make sure I could interview and make eye contact once I graduated. 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. 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.