![[UPDATE]: Colorado Swim Coach; Former NCAA All-American Added to Banned for Life List](https://swimswam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/stock-TB1_9259-.jpg)
Update: USA Swimming says that there are no criminal charges related to sexual misconduct but the case does involve sexual misconduct, per statute 304.3.5 and the other statutes cited below.
Former Colorado coach Matt Beck has been added to USA Swimming’s Individuals Permanently Suspended or Ineligible list; his official ban date is listed as August 10th, 2012.
Beck is the former owner of and head coach of Highlands Ranch Aquatics in the Denver area from 1997 until the present (his name has been removed from the website as of posting). As an athlete, he swam under Eddie Reese at the University of Texas and was a member of their 1996 National Championship Team. As a Longhorn, he was an All-American all four years, and reigned as the Southwest Conference Champion in the 200 fly in both 1995 and 1996. After graduating from Texas, his Linkedin profile indicates that he went straight into coaching.
The sections cited for banishment are below:
304.3.5 Any sexual contact or advance or other inappropriate sexually oriented behavior or action directed towards an athlete by a coach, official, trainer, or other person who, in the context of swimming, is in a position of authority over that athlete.
304.3.6 Conviction of, imposition of a deferred sentence for, or any plea of guilty or no contest at any time, past or present, or the existence of any pending charges, for (i) any felony, (ii) any offense involving use, possession, distribution or intent to distribute illegal drugs or substances, (iii) any crime involving sexual misconduct, or (iv) any criminal offense against a minor.
304.3.18 Any other material and intentional act, conduct or omission not provided for above, which is detrimental to the image or reputation of USA Swimming, a LSC or the sport of swimming.
Despite the citations above, a spokesperson for the Douglas County Sheriff’s office confirmed today to our Ceci Christy that there was no pending investigation. The District Attorney’s office also says that there is no prosecution in the case.
I guarantee you that I have more “intimate knowledge” of the situation than you do, LT, and Beck has crossed the “inappropriate sexual” line many times. I am just sorry that the other women that have been the victim of his advances over the years were too scared or ashamed to come forward. It has been ongoing for years and this one case is just the tip of the iceberg.
I see that my former posting has been deleted. Understanding the sensitivity re. possible identification, I apologize. I will attempt a re-post of my original comment along with my response to some of the replies that came afterwards. This will be my last posting.
ORIGINAL THOUGHTS: I have intimate knowledge of the situation pertaining to the allegations against Matt Beck and would like to respond to some of the comments above, (and especially to Warren.)
The facts are as such: Allegations of inappropriate behavior by Matt Beck were brought to the attention of USA Swimming by a former swimmer with the team. Douglas County Sheriff’s Department was notified by USA Swimming and upon investigation, concluded (almost immediately) that no crime… Read more »
Why no response to MM? A swim coach wearing an ankle monitoring bracelet for one of his many arrests? This guy definitely sounds like someone you want around children! Not! If that’s true, then wow!
I have a hard time believing that USA Swimming’s private investigator(s) and the Safe Sport staff did not do their due diligence and just bowed to a group of disgruntled parents in this situation. Wake up Warren – he made some mistakes and paid the price. As Baretta used to say “you do the crime, you do the time.” In this case, he won’t be coaching anymore. Disappointing for all involved and a good example to coaches who should consider the ramifications of their behavior before acting in a questionable manner.
I meant wake up LT! Too early at practice this am 🙂
Thanks JB! My point again. Time and time again, Matt Beck acted in a way that was not in his best interest or the swimmers best interest! PERIOD! His actions left people with reasonable doubt, I am not a lawyer but isn’t that enough in a court of law? Its unfortunate that it came to this public display of shame, for him and more so for his wife and family. Also for the victims that probably where left with a total misunderstanding if maybe they had done something wrong!
Wow LT, get to know the whole story… I concur with Jane. You’re just swimming with the wrong crowd. It’s a predictable 3 to 4 year cycle. Same behavior, similar departure of families and no real surprises other than those he hurt. Actually shame on him and shame on USA Swimming who was forced to take action after years of turning the other way on many other situations. Only after taking legal heat did they finally figure out they might want to weigh in.
Editor’s note: I removed LT’s comment because it gave the victim’s age. It is swimswam policy to remove any identifiable information on the victim, age, gender, etc. And it does not matter what the victim’s age is. We will only identify the victim if they decide to come forward.
ok, time for me to weigh in.
last year around this time (2011) there was an article in an asca journal written by a colorado coach who made some really good points. however, he mentioned something pretty inapropriate involing some female athletes. our head coach and his wife were apalled that this made it into a publication, let alone went with out formally being noted. she wrote a letter to ASCA and we all signed it. was this the same guy? anyone know what i’m talking about? i’ll dredge up the journal and provide a followup after lunch (east coast time!)
LT I assume by your comment you are in support of Matt Beck? We where involved in this club over 6 years ago and we where on the team for 5 years. I personally watched a coach who did not understand how to develop the appropriate relationship with his senior female swimmers. He enjoyed to push the limits and ride the gray line of what a swimmer/coach relationship should be like. I am not sure if it was for his own narcissistic enjoyment, did he enjoy the drama that it created? Its our job as adults who work with children to show them what barriers are appropriate between the adult and the child/young adult. I personally observed in repeated occasions… Read more »
Amen COFLO! I would encourage you to post your comments to the article on 9news.com! They seem to be buying into the manipulation that the coach is being wrongly accused…obviously they don’t know the back story!
Exactly COFLO!
So COFLO you say you witnessed inappropriate behavior while on this team, but you stayed on the team for 5 years??? So you must NOT have thought it was inappropriate right? So get off the bandwagon. Maybe YOU don’t know the whole story?
I witnessed inappropriate behavior. Being young and immature, I thought his attention was because I was “special”. What young girl would not want to feel that way? I think many parents were clueless. Others, I think, were suspicious but not sure. Parents of older swimmers are not often at practices and only saw him at meets. Get off CoFlo’s case! He/she DOES know what went on.
Well my comment to you Jane would be…being a parent if I were suspicious of anything, I would certainly make sure I was around, unannounced, and also I don’t know about you but I have certainly taught my child what is appropriate and what crosses the line. Not sure how you can stay on a team for 5 yrs and be clueless, as well as witnessing behavior that is inappropriate. Just saying…
As a parent of a 17 year old daughter that swims I find it DISGUSTING that it is being insinuating that because the girl was 18 and the law wasn’t broken this makes whatever the situation was okay. Even if it was just flirtatious texts being exchanged (of course we have no idea what happened, but something like that would be the bare minimum of what occered) the fact is, a coach is in a position of trust and this man is TWICE her age and MARRIED! What if it was your daughter??? If a teacher did anything “sexual” in nature, which each of the 3 violations state, to an 18 year old senior they would be fired so fast… Read more »
You’ve got to be kidding about teachers getting fired. Have you seen what’s been happening in Los Angeles Unified and Long Beach Unified school districts? The teachers are protected by their union and never get fired for aggregious sexual misconduct. These policies are not just limited to CA either.
That makes it okay? In our district, not in California, 2 teachers WERE fired for texting students with inappropriate texts. You missed the point entirely.
LT. You appear to be an HRA parent. You were not intimately involved in the board or review process which is confidential so you would not know what happened, what evIdence was presented, who testified and what was determined. Fact is that a group of Mr Beck’s peers determined that there was more than ample evidence against him at the board of review level and another totally different group of Beck’s peers agreed at the appeal level. USAS does not ban innocent people.
If was aware a coach like this was on deck at a meet with my kids I wouldn’t feel safe!