Notre Dame has suspended its men’s swimming team for at least one academic year following an investigation that uncovered multiple violations of NCAA gambling regulations and other concerning behaviors.
Notre Dame Director of Athletics Pete Bevacqua announced the suspension on Thursday, stating that the gambling infractions reflect a “deeply ingrained team culture that disregards Notre Dame’s standards for student-athletes.”
Bevacqua emphasized that the team’s prevailing culture made a full suspension necessary. “To end this behavior and to restore a culture of respect, dignity, and high standards, we have decided to suspend the men’s swimming program for at least one academic year,” he stated.
In response to concerns about cultural issues within the men’s swimming team, Notre Dame engaged a law firm for an independent investigation. Director of Athletics Pete Bevacqua reported that the investigation validated the misconduct allegations and highlighted broader issues with the team’s behavior.
The external review also revealed multiple violations of NCAA gambling regulations on intercollegiate swimming and other sports, despite consistent training on these rules provided by the Athletics Compliance staff, according to the statement.
Bevacqua noted that the investigation found the swim team’s coaching staff, who cooperated fully with the inquiry, was “unaware of the gambling activities or the extent of the misconduct.”
The investigation did not involve the men’s diving team or the women’s swimming and diving teams, which will continue to compete in the 2024-25 school year.
Bevacqua explained, “Team members effectively hid these behaviors from the coaches and staff through coordinated efforts. The review found that when staff did become aware of isolated incidents of unacceptable conduct, they addressed them seriously and professionally. We value the ongoing dedication of the staff to our women’s swimming and diving programs and men’s diving program during this challenging period.”
Notre Dame swimming coach Chris Lindauer affirmed that the university has taken the “right steps” to rebuild the program’s culture.
In a statement shared by BlueandGold.com, Lindauer expressed, “Although the past few months have been challenging, I am confident that Notre Dame has taken the right steps to prevent future misconduct. Our team culture is my top priority, and I am dedicated to enhancing the student-athlete experience both in and out of the pool. I am hopeful we will emerge from this situation stronger than ever.”
Bevacqua added that despite the extensive suspension, not every member of the men’s swimming team was involved in the misconduct. He stated, “We deeply regret that the small number of team members who did not participate in the misconduct, as well as those who were set to join the team this fall, will also face consequences. While we are disappointed by the actions that led to this decision, we understand that our students make mistakes, and our aim is to educate and support them to the best of our ability.”
The news follows closely on the heels of Notre Dame men’s swimming standout Chris Guiliano’s recent Olympic gold medal win with Team USA in the 400-meter freestyle relay. Additionally, Lindauer, who is also an assistant coach for Team USA, was involved in this achievement.
For more updates on collegiate sports and their impact, explore our latest articles in the Sports News section. Stay tuned for insights and developments as the Notre Dame men’s swimming team navigates this suspension and the broader implications for college athletics.
