Former Kentucky Coach Lars Jorgensen Handed Permanent Ban by SafeSport
Former Kentucky swim coach Lars Jorgensen has been handed a permanent ban by SafeSport, according to its database.
His listing was updated on Thursday and is denoted as “subject to appear/not yet final,” with Jorgensen having recourse via arbitration. The U.S. Center for SafeSport is the adjudicating body, and Jorgensen has sporting affiliations with USA Swimming and the USA Tennis Association.
The brief description codes of the misconduct list, “Intimate Relationship – involving a Power Imbalance; Physical Misconduct; Retaliation; Sexual Harassment; Sexual Misconduct”. SafeSport also lists a “no contact directive” associated with the action.
Jorgensen resigned in 2023 from his job as the head coach at the University of Kentucky without explanation, it having later been revealed that an investigation began. A lawsuit filed in 2024 accused Jorgensen of sexually assaulting members of the Kentucky program. The suit, brought on Title IX grounds, included former Kentucky coach Gary Conelly and athletic director Mitch Barnhart for complicity. That trial is due to begin in 2026.
Jorgensen has been accused of a long history of abusive behavior, including inappropriate relationships with staffers and female swimmers and creating a hostile environment of abuse. The Athletic has reported extensively on the allegations against Jorgensen.
Jorgensen was the head coach at Kentucky from 2014-23. He has previously coached at the University of Toledo. He swam at the 1988 Summer Olympics representing the United States, and also swam at the Pan Pacific Games and Pan Am Games.
