Former UK swim coach Lars Jorgensen receives lifetime ban from coaching

It’s been over two years since Lars Jorgensen resigned as the University of Kentucky’s swim coach amid a sexual abuse investigation. Now, he has been banned from the sport for good.
The U.S. Center for SafeSport, which was established by Congress to protect athletes in Olympic sports, ruled that Jorgensen is permanently ineligible to coach because of an intimate relationship “involving a power imbalance, physical misconduct, retaliation, sexual harassment, and sexual misconduct.” In April 2024, two former Kentucky swimmers, former team captain Briggs Alexander and an unnamed “Jane Doe,” filed a lawsuit against Jorgensen, UK, and athletic director Mitch Barnhart, claiming that Jorgensen had sexually assaulted them, including rape, and the school had ignored warnings about his inappropriate behavior toward women. Both swimmers competed for UK and also served as assistant swim coaches on Jorgensen’s staff.
Jorgensen was initially suspended in May 2023 for NCAA violations over extra practice hours and “brutal” practice conditions. A separate investigation was launched into sexual abuse within the program, which led to his resignation in June 2023. Jorgensen has denied any wrongdoing. His jury trial is scheduled to begin in June 2026 in the U.S. District Court in Lexington.
Jorgensen’s ruling from SafeSport covers his involvement with USA Swimming and the U.S. Tennis Association, and he can appeal it. He represented the United States in the 1500-meter freestyle at the 1988 Seoul Olympics and has six USA National Championship titles to his name.
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According to The Athletic, the former swimmers who filed the lawsuit also spoke to the U.S. Center for SafeSport, which issued this written statement:
“No athlete should ever be subject to abuse, or worse yet — retaliation — for speaking up. Accountability leads to the culture change necessary for athletes to fulfill their potential without the fear of harm by those in positions of power. We are grateful to those who came forward to share their stories and help bring about this resolution.”
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