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.
