Former Kentucky head coach Lars Jorgensen was paid a $75,000 settlement before resigning in June — significantly less than the $402,500 left on his contract through the 2024-25 season — according to an open records request by the Lexington Herald-Leader.
SwimSwam also made an open records request for any documents related to investigations against Jorgensen, which revealed details about his previous NCAA compliance rules violations last year. However, neither records request offered more insight into this year’s investigation that resulted in his paid leave on May 1.
If Jorgensen had been fired without cause, he would have been owed his remaining salary of nearly half a million dollars. But by signing the separation agreement, the 10th-year Wildcats coach agreed to forgo any future claims against Kentucky. He could be fired with cause for level 1 or level 2 violations of NCAA or SEC rules, failure to follow university policies, acts of misconduct, failure to comply with an NCAA investigation, violating the NCAA’s sports wagering policy, and engaging in conduct that would embarrass the university or harm a student athlete.
The self-reported rules violations from last year were all level 3 infractions:
- Countable athletically related activities (CARA) occurred on three required days off for the women’s swimmers
- CARA occurred on one required day off for the men’s swimmers
- Six hours of CARA occurred on two days which were outside of the playing season during a vacation period
- Required athletically related activities (RARA) occurred on one required day off for the women’s swimmers
- The men’s swimmers only met 13 of the 14 additional required days off
- CARA occurred on the civic engagement day off
- 22 non-postseason women’s swimmers participated in an overage of CARA by 21 minutes
- 14 postseason women’s swimmers participated in an overage of CARA by 19 minutes
- 14 non-postseason men’s swimmers participated in an overage of CARA by 9 minutes
- A men’s administrative team meeting occurred with less than adequate notice
As a result of last year’s violations, Jorgensen was suspended for one meet by the SEC along with a weeklong suspension from team activities self-imposed by Kentucky. However, swimmers told SwimSwam that they were never told of the true reason for Jorgensen’s absence last season.
Former Princeton head coach Bret Lundgaard was hired as Jorgensen’s replacement in July.
I had a very bad experience with Lars. It was extremely inappropriate and unsafe and I am really concerned about it happening to someone else in the future because I know I’m not alone. I’m working with a group of attorneys/lawyers who specialize in my case for support and help considering the best paths to accountability, meaningful reform, and protecting others. If you need support or want to be part of that conversation, you can reach out to us at [email protected].
Kentucky was tired of Lars.
So…they went looking.
Found…what they “needed…”
End result…Lars be gone…
How unfortunate.
How ridiculous.
Hope that Lars gets to coach NCAA D1 again!
That Lars was let go by UK is wrong on so many levels. He took a historically CRAP program and led them to winning an SEC team title. This was nothing short of a miracle and something I thought I’d never see in my lifetime. Lars should get the entire $400,000.00 AND have a statue erected of him outside the aquatic center. I hope Indiana does hire him and he accomplishes great things for swimming and their program like Cory Chitwood has. Anybody that really knows Lars knows he’s a GREAT coach and and an EVEN BETTER man!
I’m guessing that statue would exist to remind the many women who Lars preyed upon that you value his coaching methods more than their health, wellness, and lives. You, literally, are exactly the problem with this sport.
I had a very bad experience with Lars. It was extremely inappropriate and unsafe and I am really concerned about it happening to someone else in the future because I know I’m not alone. I’m working with a group of attorneys/lawyers who specialize in my case for support and help considering the best paths to accountability, meaningful reform, and protecting others. If you need support or want to be part of that conversation, you can reach out to us at [email protected].
Hey Popeye, you misspelled your name. I believe it goes L O O Z E
$75K gets burned through quick when nobody will touch you now. Well deserved outcome. Why doesn’t he fight for the full $400K? The walls are closing in on him permanently. Run rabbit run.
I had a very bad experience with Lars. It was extremely inappropriate and unsafe and I am really concerned about it happening to someone else in the future because I know I’m not alone. I’m working with a group of attorneys/lawyers who specialize in my case for support and help considering the best paths to accountability, meaningful reform, and protecting others. If you need support or want to be part of that conversation, you can reach out to us at [email protected].
In real life, he got fired for something else. I have no idea what, but none of these infractions, even all of them, seem fireable.
Honestly wouldn’t be surprised if Lars Jorgensen was announced an assistant coach of IU
Right because IU board of directors would allow that to happen. That’s laughable. Laughable as I know a couple of them. He’s not what they are looking for.
Yet Bowman still get to coach super team ASU when those text messages are public…
This is ridiculous! The University of Kentucky is a disgrace and doesn’t deserve to EVER have a great program.
With current upheaval in conference alignment, I’m catastrophizing a future when *no* schools “deserve” to have Olympic sport programs — of any quality.