Indiana University has fired associate head coach Mike Westphal after news broke this week of his arrest on intimidation charges.
IU released the following statement on Thursday: “Today, Associate Head Swimming Coach Mike Westphal’s employment was terminated effective immediately related to an incident that is detailed in the probable cause affidavit from the Bloomington Police Department.”
Westphal was arrested last week and faces criminal misdemeanor charges for intimidation. He is accused of trying to force a local club coach (Max Irwin, also an IU swimming alum who used to swim for Westphal) to support a club merger by threatening to hurt the other coach’s career. The Indy Star reports that Westphal allegedly told Irwin he “could be an asshole, is ruthless and would squash him.”
He’s been released on bail, but Westphal still faces the intimidation charges.
Westphal’s departure will mean Indiana’s coaching staff has almost entirely turned over from last season. Two left to take head coaching jobs (Coley Stickels at Alabama and Caitlin Hamilton at Illinois State) and another, Kirk Grand, left when his wife received a job offer in Colorado Springs.
IU’s current staff includes head coach Ray Looze, associate head coach and sprint coach Jonty Skinner, assistant coach and distance coach Cory Chitwood, assistant coach Emily Eaton and diving coach Drew Johansen. They’ll have one more swim coaching opening now to fill Westphal’s spot.
Wondering what the next move is for Ray? Another national wide search? Hire within and promote?
Hope he stays employed…can’t imagine after all this that IU cannot review every exit interview recorded and look at all the data.
I wish these laws applied to and were enforced with politicians too
I walked on to the team in 2013. Swam with Max under mike for a couple of years. Mike was always encouraging and supportive of me as a walk on. Max is also one of the nicest people you will ever meet. It’s pretty sad to hear about this situation and the outcome. Anyway, I had a positive experience while I swam. My experience with the team was the exact opposite of most of the situations described in these comments.
Swimming at IU was one of the best decisions I ever made. I will always be grateful for the opportunity that Mike and Ray gave me. Made me a better person. Max is one of my best friends and is one of the best people you will meet. Sad to hear what has happened and the comments are not reflective of my experience whatsoever.
As a parent of a swimmer who has a lot of interest in this program these comments are alarming. I understand a lot of negativity towards the program comes from personal experience and noted, especially concerning when a coach is arrested. This entire recruiting process is scaring the bejeezus out of me. Seldom is there ever an article here concerning programs that don’t contain a fair amount of disdain. Hopefully things turn around quick at IU…great school.
Having had a kid go through recruiting, I’d say I was luckier than most. The kid knew and the team wanted. Otherwise, yes, it can be very stressful and scary. There is a lot to consider. Have a sit down with your kid and spell out the pros and cons. Pay attention to the school’s programs. And do limit the number of trips to a few that are truly of interest. It lessens the distractions. And good luck!
My swimmer talked with an Indiana coach who told him that even if he decided not to go to Indiana, he would be happy to help him sort out the pros and cons of the remaining schools he was looking at. That was a plus for IU
Most of the commenters have never met Ray or Mike. They hear things from a friend who struggled with the program. While this incident is unfortunate and clearly needed to be dealt with swiftly, it doesn’t mean much to recruits. Ray is a great great coach and if your recruit is the right fit for his program, they will thrive.
“…and if your recruit is the right fit for his program, they will thrive” is a fascinating point. Here’s why: your athlete’s training background, Div 1 potential, training and work ethic, and competitive ability might be that just right fit, but we experienced a 180 degree tailspin turn after my athlete had a serious medical diagnosis, of which there were actually two, ( trust me- IU sports medicine/sport psychologist knows all of this- and a supportive team MD asked my athlete, “I will mandate recovery time for this; Will x amount of time be enough?” because this coach expected my athlete to train at 100% through a major and lingering illness). In speaking up for themselves, a swift and brutal… Read more »
There are lots of great schools and programs! Keep looking.
I wrote an article about recuiting our son is going through that *might* help some parents that will go through it soon, but SwimSwam is not letting me send it for consideration until I prove I was not a robot and no way to do that when they display that message. Or maybe I am a robot 🙂 Well, with 5 children you do turn into one that is programmed to their needs.
Wish i could give you my contact info here. Absolutely a positive experience with everything at IU. Recruiting, current culture, coaching, comraderie. Nor a program for the swimmer who us used to always being the superstar. Competitive within and competitive against others. Success thru failure is commonplace. If this can be handled by your child then they will love it and be very happy. “My 2 cents”
Most programs if you go to the top of the roster page where it has the year, you can click and see full rosters for every year. Compare how many incoming freshman actual stay swimming in their Sr. Year by going back 4 years. It doesn’t say everything but it says a lot.
I wonder what Shane Tusup is doing today?
Applying for IU coach opening?
Whatever he’s doing, he’s shirtless.
…and in slow motion.
And it’s creepy.
Is Cory actually going to be an associate again that quickly?
Does Jonty become Associate Head Coach?
He already is.
Why would someone give a “-“ to an actual factual statement?
Welcome to the internet.
Some combined programs, all the assistants are associate head coaches. Titles are a joke in college swimming
okay, I swim for the club that he was “acting on behalf of”, and I will say this: that was dumb. That was really, really dumb. A merger is exactly what we need here in town, but an action that completely ruins your reputation, the club’s reputation, and messes up your family life is NOT how you get it done.
I wonder if all this disruption is what set off Spitz’s AFib.
Here’s a better conspiracy theory: Did all this disruption effect the timing of his announcement? Spitz’s tweet says he’s been working with doctors over the last year.
p.s. Answer: Not at all.