Canada’s Kelowna AquaJets swim club has fired new head coach Lois Daigneault after news surfaced that Daigneault was under a 7-year suspension by USA Swimming, a suspension the club says she never disclosed.
Daigneault was suspended last December for a violation of two USA Swimming statutes, one dealing with fraud, deception or dishonesty and the other dealing with any conduct detrimental to USA Swimming’s image as a whole. She will remain suspended within the United States for 7 years.
That suspension wasn’t publicized by USA Swimming, though, as only lifetime bans get posted on the federation’s website.
Last week, Canada’s Kelowna AquaJets announced the hiring of Daigneault as their new head coach, but the club says the coach and her three employment references failed to tell the club about her suspension during the hiring process.
The AquaJets say they didn’t hear anything about Daigneault’s suspension until SwimSwam broke the story over the weekend, which led to the club firing Daigneault immediately Monday morning, less than a week after her hiring was announced.
Per club spokesman Clive Elkin:
Today the Kelowna Aqua Jets terminated Ms. Daigneault’s employment, effective immediately. We were blindsided by the revelation of her suspension. Ms. Daigneault did not disclose her suspension to us during the hiring process. She provided 3 references, none of whom disclosed her suspension or dispute with USA Swimming. Her suspension was not publicly available to us through the USA Swimming website, as only lifetime bans are posted. The Aqua Jets have a lengthy, proud and rich history of successful swimming, and we are greatly troubled by these events. We are currently taking urgent steps to put a qualified, experienced head coach in place for the upcoming year. After all, we just want a positive and fun environment in which our children can swim and grow.
The club will now begin searching for a new head coach to lead the traditionally very strong Canadian program.
The suspension is based on inaccurate information which USA Swimming deliberately chose to ignore. The fact is she was trying to help a Russian Swimmer stay in the US. He was to be a role model for the Club. The Club was right behind this. However, her good will was dwarfed by her lack of knowledge of the immigration process which lead to an understandable confusion. This is not lying; it’s not knowing what should have been done. It makes no sense for Lois to engage in any misconduct because she was 1000% behind the success of this Russian swimmer. USA Swimming simply choose to ignore the obvious and logical reason.
As for not revealing the suspension, it depends on… Read more »
I’m not an expert in the immigration process, but I do know that “I need $3000 in cash from you, Russian swimmer, because the immigration process goes faster if you give me cash” is a super shady first step.
We had the opportunity to train with Lois and I agree that NM has lost someone with years of experience and passion. Unfortunately, sometimes your demons keep you from fulfilling your life’s work.
Does anyone know any specifics on her suspension?
Mrsdemo – here is the information that we were able to get from USA Swimming – http://swimswam.com/new-kelowna-aquajets-coach-under-7-year-usa-swimming-suspension/
We have asked Ms. Daigneault to share her side of the story, and she said that she would early this week. Keep an eye out (especially on our Canada channel) for that information if/when we receive it.
Thanks,
Braden Keith
Managing Editor
SwimSwam.com
Make sure you fact check her “side” of the story … She seems to have problems with facts.
I shall watch with interest to see where Lois reappears next, trying to fool some other unsuspecting group. Her disarming smile hides a long history of deceitful and dishonest conduct. She has had a lot of practice at being a con artist.
I feel genuinely sorry for the folks in Kelowna. I applaud your board for stepping up and shutting down this farce of a coach and her cronies. I am sure there is a fair amount of second guessing going on. You are not the first group of well meaning folks that she has fooled and/or defrauded. Unfortunately, I fear that you will not be the last.
This is a great learning opportunity for every club. Do… Read more »
Bo while I get that professional misconduct may not be revealed by a police records check, Not sure what you mean about them not being of use internationally. We routinely require police record checks for international coaching staff as part of our due diligence.
Maybe it’s time for KAJ & LLSC to talk about joining forces…bury the hatchet and work together.
Police Checks don’t cross international borders nor do they cover professional misconduct that were police were not involved. This type of information should be shared between governing bodies.
Until FINA takes a leadership role as a centralized reporting mechanism, it is unreasonable to expect that 200+ international governing bodies of swimming independently share information with each other.
It is the responsibility of the hiring club to verify the credentials of the potential employee.
Always important for organizations working with children to require a clear police record check as part of the employment offer on all new employees, foreign or otherwise. I’m assuming this would have shown up during that process.
Good … she should have disclosed this. Fired for lying by omission.