Virginia Tech head coach Ned Skinner has resigned from his position, Virginia Tech Director of Athletics Whit Babcock announced on Monday. Sarah Stockwell-Gregson will serve as interim head coach while a search for Skinner’s replacement is underway.
“I want to thank Coach Skinner for his contributions during his 20 seasons of service to Virginia Tech,” Babcock said. “Now we are tasked with finding the right individual to lead our swimming and diving program going forward. We will make no further comments regarding our swimming and diving program until we announce our new head coach.”
That ends a 20-year career for Skinner at Virginia Tech, who was twice named ACC Men’s Coach of the Year (2012, 2014). That included leading the Virginia Tech men to their first ACC title in 2014, and winning 3 Atlantic 10 Championships (women – 1999/2000; men – 2000).
The Virginia Tech men placed 33rd with 9 points from diver Ben Schiesl on the men’s 1-meter; while the women also placed 33rd with 14 points – all from swimmers. For both teams, that was their lowest finish at NCAAs since the 2008-2009 season.
‘“I’m proud of the way our student-athletes represented Virginia Tech over the years, as well as the way they performed academically and athletically.” Skinner said. “I appreciate all the efforts of our student-athletes, as well as our dedicated coaches and support staff. After 20 seasons, I simply felt the time was right for a new leader to take over the direction of the program.”
No announcement has been made about the long-term future of the staff, though all assistants remain listed on the team’s website.
Va Tech, do the right thing! Expose the truth, protect the women that have been entrusted to you and take responsibility for the actions of your staff. Women of the world ( and the men that love them) “TIMES UP”. Time for this unacceptable behavior to be stopped. None of the women in our lives deserves this, and God forbid if any of your daughters has to go through this.
Maybe there needs to be a TIMES UP march around the drill field!
Unfortunately, college athletics is a multimillion dollar business and AD’s, administrators and college presidents have lost their moral way. It is never ok to verbally or physically abuse an athlete. Any whiff of abuse should be immediately investigated and steps taken that year to prevent it from happening again. Michigan State ignored it for years and many gymnasts suffered. VA Tech swimming had that reputation when we went through the recruiting process 3 years ago and no way was my daughter going to even look at that school. That was 3 years ago……3 years too many that led to how many women and men quitting the swim team because of abuse? Another Big Ten school will soon be in the… Read more »
Michigan State reference?…. Please, tell the public something they need to know. I mean, I respect the process, and all potential abuse should be investigated fully. An investigation can then tell if there seems to be guilt or not.
A michigan state scandal reference is pretty strong I must say, though. Disrespectful to those victims to loosely throw it out as a comparison.
I believe the Michigan State reference is to the gymnastics program
You are implying someone has been charged of a wrongdoing. Ned Skinner is a good man, not perfect…but a really good man with a big heart. None of us are perfect. He ran a tight program and his swimmers were kept in line. If there is anything that should come out, then let due process/investigation handle it, rather than speculate. This in NO way should be compared to the Michigan State gymnastics program or the reputation of having that type of program. That is just false. Swimming is not considered a multimillion dollar business and I believe the AD’s and Administrators at VT are good people who want what is best for this sport.
Ned, Congratulations on all your success at VT. It was an honor to share the deck with you. I wish you all the best in the future. Keep moving forward my friend.
Ned Skinner is a great man and im sad to see him leave the swimming and diving program at tech he taught me many things about the sport, im sure VT has a plan and i hope coach Skinner does well in all of his future endeavors with or without TECH
Ned Skinner is a dear friend and coaching colleague of mine for over 25 years. He is an incredible coach and even better person. He bleeds Virginia Tech and represented them with such class. Best of luck my friend.
University of Richmond has taken over the state. No hope for UVA or VT. #gospiders
Would be nice if UR had a men’s team.
If you think this man willingly resigned you have your head in the sand. The Univeraity won’t even discuss his departure or the reasons. That is code for we need to cut our losses before there are even more problems for us. Nor did the University discuss the internal investigation that occurred last year. Why was there one? What was the outcome? Why are we not hearing from the current swimmers? Is there a gag order?
Let’s hear the WHOLE story before discussion continues as to what a great guy this man is. There are skeletons in this closet and its high time they are let out! The swimmers deserve better than they are getting from this administration. They… Read more »
If you have something to say…..1. that has not been said here already, 2. that is “confirmable” with proof you can site or provide, 3. that is not opinion or innuendo and 4. that is specific in nature…..then PLEASE, by all means provide it.
But do so UNDER YOUR REAL NAME (have the guts to put your name to your words), not some pseudonym you can hide behind and sling this unsubstantiated innuendo BS in an attempt to damage the character of this man.
There were sexual harassment accusations against Skinner.
His swimmers truly like him – an old time coaches approach – this makes me sad!
I wish him the best!
A true loss for the Hokies program. Ned Skinner was a down to earth, well put together guy. He ran his program like no other coach out there by holding his team to fantastic standards. No doubt he will fit in good with another elite program.
You have no clue
Care to elaborate?
Give it time. There’s more to it than a guy resigning (but not retiring) after 20 years without a new job in hand.
Hokie Parent is right
From what i’ve heard locally, Ned was terminated for harassment. Sometimes even good people, coaches and friends do bad things…
This is not at all what I heard. I heard he needed to take time off for his family.
@HokieParent – I have a bit of a clue and I’ll post publicly under my name. Speaking as one of Ned’s former swimmers, I consider him to be one of my closest friends and mentors. The man gave his heart and soul to the program for 20 years. We love you Ned, thank you for everything you gave to us.