Joe Bernal, most recently the coach of a swim club that had his name attached to it, has been banned for life by USA Swimming. Earlier this year we reported on the sale of the club, and the subsequent scrubbing of Bernal’s name. Now Bernal has been judged by USA Swimming to have violated the following pieces of the code of conduct:
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.
304.3.5 Any inappropriate sexually oriented behavior or action directed towards a member by any other adult participating in any capacity whatsoever in the affairs or activities of USA Swimming or its LSCs (whether such adult is a member or not). Any nonconsensual physical sexual conduct, or pattern of unwelcome advances or other sexual harassment in connection with or incidental to a USA Swimming-related activity by any person participating in the affairs or activities of USA Swimming or its LSCs (whether such person is a member or not) directed toward any member or other person participating in the affairs or activities of USA Swimming or its LSCs. (effective September 27, 2008)
304.3.5 Any sexual conduct, advance or other inappropriate sexually oriented behavior or action directed towards an athlete by (i) a coach member or other non-athlete member, or (ii) any other adult participating in any capacity whatsoever in the affairs or activities of USA Swimming (whether such adult is a member or not). Any nonconsensual physical sexual conduct, or pattern of unwelcome advances or other sexual harassment in connection with or incidental to a USA Swimming-related activity by any person participating in the affairs or activities of USA Swimming (whether such person is a member or not) directed toward any member or other person participating in the affairs or activities of USA Swimming
Although the same section of the code of conduct is referenced three times (304.3.5), that particular part has gone through two changes since 2008. Bernal had been inducted into the ASCA Hall of Fame just this past fall, and one of his top former athletes (and former USA Swimming board member) David Berkoff had publicly expressed support for his former coach.
We have not been able to determine Bernal’s exact whereabouts to reach him for comment, but multiple, independent sources within New England swimming say that he left the country abruptly this fall. Bernal was well known for coaching both Berkoff and another Olympian, Bobby Hackett. Bernal was also the coach of Harvard University from 1978-1992. For many years, Bernal’s Gators Swim Club was the strongest and most nationally prominent club in the New England area, although not in recent memory.
Update on this story from the Boston Globe: https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2016/09/18/joseph-bernal-nowhere-found-after-being-banned-usa-swimming/sLexDxeAkYJAW8Fc1oSn6O/story.html
This is so disappointing, I was in Silver when he was banned and it was heartbreaking to realize the beloved head coach had been banned for something this horrendous without denial. Great coach, terrible person. I’m glad his reputation is tarnished, this isn’t acceptable no matter what his achievements or whatever positive connection he had with any swimmer.
Joe is back in the states for now! Have at it before he skips to Columbia again!
So that’s it? JB just sells his team for $ & runs away & HIDES? No legal, no police, no D.A., no nothing? R u kidding? If u connect the dots & go bk in time, u will find that JB was a master manipulator, intimidator, abused “B & C” swimmers relentlessly, full of cute tricks, etc. His model has always been to set up his favorites (captains, parents, etc) – convert & entice w perks, scholarships, etc. He used the favorite swimmers to carry out his dirty work & spying on the team – & their parents did the dirty work & spying in the stands – selling out all the other parents. He has always had cling-ons who… Read more »
At a swim meet over the weekend, one of Bernal’s swimmers was on the medal stand. While on the medal stand, another swimmer put his hand out to congratulate the Bernal swimmer. The Bernal swimmer pushed the swimmer’s hand away. This was seen by everyone watching the medal ceremony. Later on that night, the other swimmer swam the final leg of a relay against the Gator team and got to the wall first. The crowd went crazy. It was either because justice was served in the pool or because Bernal’s team has earned too many New Englander’s dislike or because it was dubbed Lezak’s 2008 relay finish. I believe that relay swim also took the record away from Bernal’s in… Read more »
Classic JB – that’s what he teaches the kids. Anyone here familiar w “Fu%k u – IU”? That’s what Harvard chanted when legend Doc brought IU to swim @ Harvard. Of course JB will say “Oh, the kids got carried away” – but this is all classic JB: get his favorites aside, instruct them to order the team to do the chant, peer pressure on by older favorites, JB not in the room – then they all chant at the meet – JB pretends he not part of it. The kids r all unsports-like cause they get the “wink of approval” by the Kool-Aid creep.
Please stop blaming the victims, and asking why they don’t come forward. Use your heads, and quit with the bullying mob mentality. I’m guessing that the victims have had enough, and want to move forward. Joe is guilty, and it’s not just one swimmer accusing him, or an angry daughter who didn’t get the team. End of story.
Whatever the outcome, Joe was a great coach and positively influenced my life (Fordham Swimming captain 1971). Coach turned around Fordham and created swimming and water polo teams that still stay together after 40 years.
He was a good coach and a bad man. He is guilty, end of story- he was the predator, not the victim. Unfortunately, there are so many victims, not just one…former swimmers, his family and so many more. If you didn’t have this experience, you were one of the lucky ones,
Looks like Fordham did the appropriate thing:
https://fordhamram.com/2016/05/04/former-head-swim-coach-banned-for-sexual-misconduct-violations/
Will ASCA follow? Was he in any other HOF’s?
Swim Mom with your undying love for all things Joe B, you better go there and have them change this! You are making all swim parents look bad in my opinion with your comments and accusations. As so many people have posted, it is very sad and sickening to me that so many people continue to support Joe after he was banned. Joe was banned, this is a reality. Sorry that you are unable to face this fact. if you are so supportive of Joe, then why don’t you use your real name and really back him up 100%.
Still no word from the accused? Hmmmm