New University of Arizona head diving coach John Appleman and Stephanie Sutton of the Dominion Dive Club have both been suspended by USA Diving. The pair are currently listed under the “Suspended Members” list of temporarily-suspended members on the USA Diving website for violations of the organization’s Code of Conduct.
Appleman, formerly the head coach of the Ohio State Diving Club, was announced as the new head diving coach at Arizona in early June. He was suspended by USA Diving on July 12th.
He was previously the head coach and owner of the Dominion Diving Club in Virginia; when he left, 4-time NCAA Division II Champion Sutton took over the club. She was also suspended on July 12th.
We have reached out to the Dominion Dive Club, the University of Arizona, and USA Diving for comment, and among them only USA Diving has responded, though they wouldn’t share information about why the suspensions happened or what their term is.
“Providing a safe environment for our members is of tremendous importance to USA Diving, and we take these matters very seriously,” a spokesperson for the organization said. “USA Diving is unable to comment on suspended members and their cases.”
Appleman is still listed as the head diving coach at Arizona, as is Sutton at the Dominion Dive Club. We were unable to find any recent criminal records for either coach, nor any local news reports on why they may have been suspended.
While the coaches are listed on USA Diving‘s temporary suspension list, they are not listed in the U.S. Center for Safe Sport database. The U.S. Center for Safe Sport is now responsible for investigating and making suspensions related to abuse of minors, while the National Governing Bodies generally maintain authority over other Code of Conduct violations.
Appleman’s suspension wouldn’t necessarily extend to NCAA competition, although it could impact his ability to coach at events jointly sanctioned by USA Diving and the NCAA, or to coach his athletes at national competitions.
USA Diving has temporarily suspended 4 members in 2018. University of Idaho coach Jim Southerland was suspended for sexual misconduct, while Candace Gottlieb was suspended in June after she and her 27-year old son Tyler were arrested on federal drug charges.
Sutton was removed from list of suspended members.
Safesport does not tell the public who said what about allegations, people on this forum claiming to know what they discovered are either lying, or members of SafeSport (doubt it). So, based on what I know first hand, I think I can safely say that she was not suspended for covering up an alleged rape, because she did not cover anything up. What she did was try to have all of the divers sign a statement for the alleged rapist’s lawyer without telling parents what was happening. But of course, the kids all went home and told their parents that they were being asked to provide a statement to a lawyer – something a minor should never do without parental… Read more »
In a similar way as “oh really?” above, your statements are libel against Ms Sutton and must stop.
You are confused on several facts as well. Safesport did not suspend Ms Sutton. USA Diving did, based solely on the existence of a safesport allegation. That suspension has since been rightfully removed having had no basis in any investigation as well as for violating the Ted Stevens Act/USOC Bylaws by not providing a hearing.
Due process is not being served here. USA Diving has damaged careers through their suspensions based on allegations alone without any conclusion of an investigation or a hearing to review any findings.
Shame on you USA Diving.
If you don’t believe me, Ask USA… Read more »
Steph Sutton is being investigated because she allegedly harassed the female divers on her team by saying disgusting things to them. Like reportedly telling her top male diver at age 13 to”act like you want to put it in her” about one of the female divers aged 14. And “why are you looking down at your titties; they aren’t going to get bigger.” She also allegedly covered up a rape by one of her male divers against one of her female divers after the diver reported it. Both divers were minors. Hopefully USA Diving will ban her.
Who are you? If you are sharing details like that, certainly you can share your source, right? Or are you just spreading rumours? It is real easy to make accusations anonymously. Just like the “anonymous” allegations against Mr Appleman who has now been cleared by SafeSport of any wrongdoing. Check USA Diving’s website, Mr Appleman has been reinstated, but because of USA Diving’s knee-jerk reaction to anonymous allegations with no investigation, his career is damaged.
I think what you have posted here is libel against Ms Sutton and Mr Appleman. You should be ashamed.
Wow. Are those actual first hand quotes? How do you know? Are you part of this investigation? If you are, I have to ask why you’re not keeping it confidential. If you’re not part of this in an official capacity, it’s straight up libel. I haven’t seen a single public statement from USA Diving regarding Sutton’s suspension. Have you? If so, please share.
Still can’t figure out what Stephanie Sutton has to do with any of this?
WONDERING – that is an important question. If the suspension was related to Appleman’s time at OSSC, which, nobody official has said it is, then it’s not clear why Sutton would be involved. I can’t find a record that she w as ever coaching at OSSC, and she is not named in the lawsuit.
The same suspension date, and the professional connections of Sutton and Appleman, however, seems too much to be a coincidence.
We may never find out more – but if we do, it probably won’t be until after the lawsuit concludes.
It has to do with dominion dive club. John Appleman used to be the owner there. They are most likely looking into his past relationships with divers. It is known that him and his now wife started dating when she was his club diver. That is the only thing I can think of.
Arguably two of the most successful club programs in the country, both run by professionals. Until there is a formal complaint against either Appleman or Sutton, it’s best to not assume anything or jump to baseless conclusions.
Sutton has to do with (1) her allegedly providing alcohol on a regular basis to her underage divers at meets, sleepovers and training trips and (2) her covering up an alleged rape by one of her star boy divers of one of her girl divers at one of these sleepovers. Appleman had to do with his inappropriate relationship with his now-wife Kelli while she was his underage club diver and also his inappropriate relationship with a prior underage diver of his before Kelli.
The allegations you mention in regard to both Sutton and Appleman are quite specific. Since neither is named as a defendant, nor has anything been made public, I have to wonder how you have specific information? Until there is a formal complaint against either of them, it’s reckless to assert such allegations and is bordering on libel.
They are completely separate suspensions. The reason they were published the same day is because safesport and US Diving had to act quickly before they went on the Jr. Worlds trip where they were both scheduled as team coaches.
The only reason I can conclude that the unrelated suspensions were done on the same day and so abruptly with NO INVESTIGATION and NO DETAILS provided to the accused is because USA Diving was being served with the lawsuit from Estee Pryor that same day. From the by-laws, these type of immediate suspensions have to be done by the CEO (Lee Johnson) and the Chairman of the Board (Michele Mitchell). Unfortunately, they decided that they would simply preemptively suspend anyone with a current allegation as a show that they “do something” when they hear allegations (which is what the lawsuit contends that they failed at).
Having read the by-laws (check section 22.10 where this suspension is mentioned), this was an… Read more »
I don’t think these suspensions have anything to do with the lawsuit and how would suspending 2 coaches unrelated to the lawsuit help them to defend themselves against the lawsuit filed? It is also concerning that USA Diving has not communicated the specifics and timing of their investigation or when they expect to conclude it. I feel bad for all who are stuck in the uncertainty–coaches, divers, parents, colleagues. If this is a knee jerk reaction and USA Diving reverses their decision..they have done a heck of alot of damage to two coaches. Things just don’t disappear on the internet
NO INVESTIGATION? What planet do you live on? There was an extensive investigation by SafeSport before Stephanie was suspended – but because you were not interviewed that means there was no investigation? Many witnesses were interviewed, and as a result, she was suspended. See my other post.
Read my post carefully. USA Diving is the one who suspended them and USA Diving conducted NO INVESTIGATION. Safesport alone has jurisdiction and has not taken any disciplinary action. They have talked to many people. I am one of those.
I should not have used the word guilty. I meant to say, if one dive coach is dragged through this, shouldn’t the other also be?
anyone child who dove at Ohio State dive club was treated like cattle. Justin Sochor bullied kids and parents and all that Ohio State was concerned about is $$$$ I hope the investigation gets to Mr. Sochor because HE is at the root of all this!! He created this monster,,
If Appleman is guilty, then wouldn’t prior dive coach be guilty, too? I believe his name is Justin Socher.
Justi Sochor created this problem at Ohio state and should be booted also.
class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of at least 50 female athletes against Bohonyi, USA Diving and John Appleman (Ohio State Dive Club)
what Lawsuit names Appleman as a defendant? i haven’t seen that anywhere…..please post if you have this information…..don’t just make accusations….
This is what sucks about the internet: so many people just assume the guy is guilty, without any facts whatsoever. Then someone like poster ‘The Truth’ dares to defend the coach with actual facts, and promptly gets downvoted by all the witch-hunters.
Not everybody that gets charged (or whatever the USA suspension list is called) is guilty. That’s sort of a primary tenet of America. I get that victims of these horrible crimes deserve all the rights, justice and restitution possible.
But putting the Appleman’s name on a public blacklist for the crime of…. what?…. already brands him guilty and his career is over. If he is guilty, then he deserves it. But there certainly don’t seem to… Read more »