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LEXINGTON — Former University of Kentucky swimming and diving coach Lars Jorgensen has settled a sexual harassment and sexual assault lawsuit brought by a pair of his former swimmers in U.S. District Court, according to court documents dated Aug. 6.
While the case against Jorgensen is now settled, it remains open against other parties still named in the suit: former UK athletics director Mitch Barnhart and the university itself. The trial is set to begin in May 2027.
When the former swimmers filed the suit in April 2024, they alleged there was a "toxic, sexually hostile environment" within the swim program during Jorgensen's tenure, from 2013 to 2023. In the suit, the swimmers claimed the university permitted Jorgensen "to prey on, sexually harass, and commit horrific sexual assaults and violent rapes against young female coaches and collegiate athletes who were reliant on him."
According to reporting from The Athletic, Jorgensen had been reported for possible misconduct at least three times between 2012-19.
In 2025, the U.S. Center for SafeSport permanently banned Jorgensen from coaching, claiming he had engaged in intimate relationships "involving a power imbalance," physical and sexual misconduct, sexual harassment and retaliation.
Jorgensen resigned in 2023 while he was away from the program amid an investigation into possible NCAA compliance violations.
In 2021, Jorgensen guided the UK women's team to its first-ever SEC championship. Then-freshman Levi Sandidge earned gold in the 1,650-yard freestyle at the conference championships in 2023, becoming the first Wildcat to win the event at the league meet.
Before he took over the Wildcats' women's and men's programs, Jorgensen was as an assistant coach (2010-11) and interim head coach (2011-12) at Tennessee, his alma mater. Jorgensen also acted as Toledo's head coach from 2004-10. He won the Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year award two times during his tenure. In his final season at Toledo, it won the MAC title. Jorgensen also had a four-year stint as an assistant at LSU prior to becoming Toledo's coach.
Before he moved into coaching, Jorgensen was an accomplished swimmer. He was part of the U.S. team at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, and won six USA National Championship titles. He set Tennessee's record in the 1,000 free (9:05.38 in 1992), a mark that stood until 2015.
Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
Courier Journal reporters Marina Johnson and Caroline Neal contributed.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Former Kentucky swim coach Lars Jorgensen settles sex abuse lawsuit
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While the case against Jorgensen is now settled, it remains open against other parties still named in the suit: former UK athletics director Mitch Barnhart and the university itself. The trial is set to begin in May 2027.
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When the former swimmers filed the suit in April 2024, they alleged there was a "toxic, sexually hostile environment" within the swim program during Jorgensen's tenure, from 2013 to 2023. In the suit, the swimmers claimed the university permitted Jorgensen "to prey on, sexually harass, and commit horrific sexual assaults and violent rapes against young female coaches and collegiate athletes who were reliant on him."
According to reporting from The Athletic, Jorgensen had been reported for possible misconduct at least three times between 2012-19.
In 2025, the U.S. Center for SafeSport permanently banned Jorgensen from coaching, claiming he had engaged in intimate relationships "involving a power imbalance," physical and sexual misconduct, sexual harassment and retaliation.
Jorgensen resigned in 2023 while he was away from the program amid an investigation into possible NCAA compliance violations.
In 2021, Jorgensen guided the UK women's team to its first-ever SEC championship. Then-freshman Levi Sandidge earned gold in the 1,650-yard freestyle at the conference championships in 2023, becoming the first Wildcat to win the event at the league meet.
Before he took over the Wildcats' women's and men's programs, Jorgensen was as an assistant coach (2010-11) and interim head coach (2011-12) at Tennessee, his alma mater. Jorgensen also acted as Toledo's head coach from 2004-10. He won the Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year award two times during his tenure. In his final season at Toledo, it won the MAC title. Jorgensen also had a four-year stint as an assistant at LSU prior to becoming Toledo's coach.
Before he moved into coaching, Jorgensen was an accomplished swimmer. He was part of the U.S. team at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, and won six USA National Championship titles. He set Tennessee's record in the 1,000 free (9:05.38 in 1992), a mark that stood until 2015.
Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
Courier Journal reporters Marina Johnson and Caroline Neal contributed.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Former Kentucky swim coach Lars Jorgensen settles sex abuse lawsuit
Continue reading...
