Jack Fabian has been released from his role as the resident coach of U.S. Paralympics Swimming at the Olympic Training Center, CO. The United States Paralympic Committee says they have declined to comment, saying they “typically don’t have any information or official comments to share on personnel changes.” One National Team member, who asked to remain anonymous, was able to share evidence of a conversation where Fabian confirmed his tenure as the resident coach was over.
Fabian took up the position in July of 2015 after resigning as the head coach at Keene State College, a Division III institution that Fabian guided to 11 New England Intercollegiate Championships. Queenie Nichols, the Director of High Performance for U.S. Paralympics Swimming, will serve as the interim coach, but no nominations or possible replacements have been named at this time.
This is the second switch for the resident program, which includes a permanent elite team based at the OTC in less than a year. In May of 2015, Fabian’s predecessor Dave Denniston resigned abruptly as well. His statements at the time reflected that his decision to step down as the resident coach for U.S. Paralympics Swimming was a, “complex mixture of both personal and political issues, but were not due to any one person or event.”
In preparation for the 2016 Paralympics, the next stop for the 2016 National Team is the Rio Test Event taking place in April. Team USA is sending ten of its members to compete at the soon-to-be Paralympic venue.
Gee, do you think this has had anything to do with it? https://staging.swimswam.com/father-paralympic-champion-jessica-long-speaks-cheating/
It is extremely worrying if one cannot voice ones opinion regarding issues within para swimming without jeodpordizing ones position within the organization. Yes, it is unfortunate that a few athletes are named during open discussion but it is not the end of the world. I do not understand why no one stands up for the athletes during the classification process for example. These classifiers are volunteers. They classify according to a negative point scoring system perhaps twice a year. They do not answer to anyone during this process other than to the chief classifier who is also a volunteer. They are not doing anyone any favors by volunteering their time for a ‘worthy cause’. Not one IPC employee is present… Read more »
There’s been a lot of negativity in the posts regarding US Paraswimming. It’s unfortunate to read comments identifying one paraswimmer’s performance and recognition vs. another’s. Really? Is that necessary? Is the management of the Team called into question here? Certainly, however, it’s in poor taste to list off names of athletes and identify who you believe will be medalists and perform well in Rio. I think a lot of the points can be stated without dragging names and airing out some of the stuff being posted. I agree the decision to replace Jack seems foolish and untimely. I suppose if you’re a resident athlete and you don’t like the decision, leave the program. The situation of a coach change/management change… Read more »
Jessica Long no longer swims with Loeffler. She went back to NBAC.
The US Paralympic swim program is a joke; hence, the reason Brad Synder refuses to be on the national team or accept their pathetic stipend. Brian Loeffler has coached more swimmers to medals and records (Long, Jordan, Silverman, Synder, Meyers) in the last 4 years than any para-coach in the US and the USPC treats him terribly because he voices the truth about the very dysfunctional classification system. makes him uncomfortable. They need Loeffler and his athletes. The only athlete not coached by Loeffler than stands a good chance of medals are Perkins and Konkoly. Thank God they are not in the residents program. The USPC did not fight for Silverman, their brightest star, when he was unjustly classed out… Read more »
I was told that the resident program was for swimmers that didnt have access to a good swim team to practice with. So if you are training with a major college team or top tier club team then you are less likely to be accepted into the program cause you already have the training situation you need to make the national team. So by definition they are accepting the more marginal athletes or maybe the older ones that are out of school already. Usually by the age of 18 your swimming ability is pretty well defined so the program goal to coach up some of these swimmers to the national level is really going to be difficult to reach. Its… Read more »
It seems quite obvious that upper management is the problem with the U.S. Paralympic Team. They are solely focused upon their own bonuses and keeping officials and international classifiers in their pocket. It is important now to put the focus back on the athletes, their training and their coaches.
Question? How come the Paralympic swimmers at the OTC aren’t as good as Paralympic swimmers who don’t train at the OTC? Is the Paralympic program like a rec. team? Michele Konk, J-Long, Lizzi S-dog Smith, and Brad Snyder with Gizzi the Dog are killing it… Do the people on the Paralympic resident have any worthwhile resume?
Let me leave you with this… One para swimmer, a gold medalist actually, who happens to be a decorated veteran and war hero has refused to be on the national team out of principle. For an organization that falls all over itself for medal count, that says a lot. Is that not enough of a damning statement alone?
So lets review, Queenie Nichols and Julie O’niell (or their associates) have posed as other people on this thread to get their message across but the organization itself has given zero explanation for such a quick turn around. All implications aside, their history in running the para program is rife with coaches leaving under odd circumstances and some of the top… Read more »