Former University of California women’s swimming coach Teri McKeever has admitted to emotionally and physically abusing Golden Bear swimmers as part of an agreement with the U.S. Center for Safe Sport, according to a confidential document obtained by the Southern California News Group.
McKeever’s admission in SafeSport’s 18-page notice of decision this week marks the first time she has acknowledged abusing Cal swimmers since a May 2022 SCNG investigation first reported dozens allegations that she routinely bullied, emotionally and physically abused swimmers, pressured them to compete and/or train while injured and directed profanity and racist language toward them.
McKeever, the most successful female coach in swimming history and who led the Golden Bears to four NCAA team titles, was fired in January after an eight-month university-commissioned investigation concluded that she discriminated against swimmers on the basis of race, national origin and disability, including using the n-word, and abused athletes in violation of university policy.
As a condition of reaching an Informal Resolution with the U.S. Center for SafeSport, McKeever admitted that “between 2000 and 2022 (she) engaged in behavior that constitutes Emotional Misconduct while acting in the role of Head Coach of the women’s swimming team at the University of California, Berkeley. (McKeever) screamed profanities close to Athletes’ faces, encouraged Athletes to train through injuries, grabbed an Athlete by the arm, screamed and ridiculed Athletes during practice, humiliated Athletes in the presence of the team, and caused Athletes severe emotional distress.”
McKeever was suspended by SafeSport for three months from coaching or being involved in any events sanctioned by the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and placed on probation for 12 months following an 18-month investigation by the Center.
During the investigation, 19 athletes told SafeSport investigators of more than 90 incidents of abuse.
The SafeSport code defines Emotional Misconduct as “Verbal Acts, Physical Acts and Acts that deny support” for athletes. SafeSport reached its decision on Wednesday and informed the former swimmers Thursday.
Among the specific violations McKeever acknowledged was a February 2022 incident in which she said she grabbed a swimmer “by the arm in anger and unintentionally scratched (the swimmer’s) skin with (her) fingernails above (the swimmer’s) elbow while screaming close to (the swimmer’s face).”
McKeever also acknowledged screaming at a swimmer suffering from a hip injury that “you need to figure it out or get the (f—) back in the pool.”
McKeever also admitted she was abusive to the same swimmer after the athlete’s mother died after battling Parkinson’s Disease in 2019.
“Yes, I did definitely yell at her and curse at her,” McKeever said. She also admitted calling the swimmer a “waste of space.”
Thomas Newkirk, McKeever’s attorney, could not be reached for comment according to an employee at his law firm.
A spokesman for Cal said the university had no comment at this time.
This story will be updated.
