According to "Splash of Truth", Bill Jewell is out as the coach of FAST as of a few days ago. Jewell is unfortunately probably best known for the confrontation he had with Sean Hutchison earlier this year concerning rumors of relationships with swimmers in his charge. SOT makes the assertion that Jewell was forced out by USA Swimming in a retaliation for his speaking out to the press, and reproduces a letter from board members which I cannot verify. This whole situation is lacking a lot of clarity and explanation.
To rewind, the Washington Post article came out with quotes from Hutchison and Jewell. What followed was news that Hutchison was resigning. Then he said he wasn't resigning. Still, he hasn't been at a meet with FAST since. If Sean did in fact leave FAST, shouldn't there be some sort of news of it from USA Swimming? What about Jewell? I mean, this is a center that USA Swimming members are paying for, right? Is FAST still going to be a post grad center? Right now USA Swimming is embroiled in a court case. A lot of the arguments center around secrecy. They aren't doing themselves any favors by their lack of information about what is going on at FAST. They have created a void where outside sources like "Splash of Truth" are the only sources of information about their organization.
I'm wondering what was in the COE excellence agreements and if this is even a USA-Swimming National Office type of issue. I mean, FAST was a team before the USOC made it a COE, and it will be one afterwards. Wasn't Jewell the president of the entire club? This may be an internal matter?
ReplyDeleteAt any rate, I'm incredibly hesitant about that SOT site, but as you pointed out, it's currently all there is.