University of Kentucky swimming coach, facing NCAA investigation, away from team: Report
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky swimming and diving coach Lars Jorgensen has been away from the team for more than a month, according to a report published Wednesday by SwimSwam.
A spokesperson for UK Athletics declined comment to The Courier Journal about Jorgensen and the report Thursday afternoon.
Sources told SwimSwam Jorgensen is serving what amounts to a "suspension" as an investigation into possible NCAA compliance violations takes place. One source told SwimSwam he also was suspended for the team's SEC opener against Texas A&M in November. The source told SwimSwam other members of the Wildcats' coaching staff — assistants Bailey Bonnett, Geena Freriks and Jordan Lieberman — served suspensions during the first week of May.
In addition, SwimSwam reported Michael Camper, who spent the past five seasons as associate head coach, has resigned. Camper's LinkedIn account says he started working at Gardner Inc. as a territory manager in June.
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Members of the women's swimming and diving team were not informed of the coaching staff's indiscretions until the day after the transfer portal closed April 30, according to SwimSwam.
Jorgensen recently completed his 10th season guiding both the men's and women's swim and dive programs at Kentucky. He led the women's team to its first SEC title in 2021. Last season, the women's team took third at the SEC championships while the men finished eighth. Freshman Levi Sandidge earned gold in the 1,650-yard freestyle at the conference championships, becoming the first Wildcat to ever win the event at the league meet.
Prior to arriving in Lexington, Jorgensen served as an assistant coach (2010-11) and interim head coach (2011-12) at his alma mater, Tennessee, in 2011-12.
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He was Toledo's head coach from 2004-10, twice winning the Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year award. In his final season with the Rockets, they won the MAC championship. Jorgensen also had a four-year stint as an assistant at LSU before taking over Toledo's program.
As a swimmer, Jorgensen was part of the U.S. team at the 1988 Seoul Olympics and won six USA National Championship titles. He set Tennessee's record in the 1,000 free (9:05.38 in 1992), a mark that stood until 2015.
Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @RyanABlack.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky swim coach Lars Jorgensen facing NCAA investigation: Report
