Former Kentucky swim coach dismissed from Title IX lawsuit to serve as witness

LEXINGTON, Ky. ( FOX 56 ) — A former University of Kentucky swim coach has been dismissed from a Title IX sexual assault lawsuit against the school.

On Tuesday, former head coach Gary Conelly was dismissed from the lawsuit “with prejudice,” which alleges Conelly was aware of and had reported previous allegations against Lars Jorgensen.

The lawsuit, filed by two former swimmers and assistant coaches on April 12, accused the university of failing to address allegations of sexual abuse by Jorgensen. He was hired as head swimming coach in 2012, preceding Conelly.

The lawsuit alleges that for 10 years, Jorgensen fostered a sexually hostile environment within the swim program and committed “horrific sexual assaults and violent rapes against young female coaches and collegiate athletes who were reliant on him.” According to court documents, UK was aware of the incidents and “aggressively” discouraged students and employees from filing Title IX reports because it “would be pointless.”

When former Toledo swim coach Mark Howard learned about Jorgensen’s new role at UK, he reported to Conelly that while at Toledo, Jorgensen allegedly sexually abused a former swimmer and filmed it on university equipment.

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I coached at Toledo for a year then had to run away as fast as I could. While there a former Toledo swimmer made it known to me about a sexual relationship she had with Lars before she had graduated. I confronted Lars about it, and made it very clear that he stay away from any Toledo swimmers for as long as he was alive. Had I known he was interviewing with Kentucky I certainly would have called.

I wish you the best and hope he does not bring down your University. This is no joke at all and I cannot stomach the fact that he will be coaching women again.

Mark Howard

The following day, Conelly responded to Howard’s email, calling the allegations “disturbing,” and that they would be investigated. Howard never received a response from Conelly or the University of Kentucky per court documents and failed to report it to the Title IX office and other appropriate outlets.

Further, Howard forwarded the above message to athletic director Mitch Barnhart. According to court documents, the report was ignored.

FOX 56 reached out to Megan Bonanni at Pitt McGehee Palmer Bonanni & Rivers, who represents the plaintiffs regarding Conelly’s dismissal. She said that he would serve as a key witness against the university.

“The plaintiffs in this case voluntarily dismissed Gary Conelly from the lawsuit. However, this does not absolve him of any misconduct. Instead, it shifts the responsibility for his actions to his former employer, the University of Kentucky,” Bonanni said. “We fully expect Mr. Conelly to serve as a key witness in our case against the University of Kentucky, Lars Jorgensen, and Mitch Barnhart.”

In August, the university and Conelly filed motions to dismiss portions of the lawsuit. The motion argued that the school can’t be sued as it has sovereign immunity as a state institution. Also, that it had good faith, without wrongful intent, and in its authority once the complaints came to light.

According to the order, the plaintiffs have until Nov. 8 to respond to the university’s motion to dismiss and UK must reply by Dec. 6.

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