One-Year Suspension for Notre Dame Men’s Swimming Team Over Gambling

The University of Notre Dame’s athletic director Pete Bevacqua has announced their men’s swimming team has been slapped with a suspension of at least one academic year. 

Thursday’s shocking announcement detailed that the decision came after a thorough and documented external investigation that revealed the team violated a series of National College Athletic Association (NCAA) gambling rules and was dealing with team culture issues. 

The Investigation’s Findings, “Contrary to the University’s Values”

In June, Bevacqua sent a letter to the athletic department’s staff informing them that the school had hired a law firm to review the swimming program after learning about the potential issues. 

According to information from an anonymous source with knowledge of the situation, team members had set up an internal sportsbook where athletes were able to wager on the team’s swimming performances as well as other sports. 

More than 60% of the returning team for the 2024-25 season (roughly 25 swimmers) is believed to have engaged in the wagering activity, betting among themselves on their own Super Bowl and March Madness games.

Involved athletes set up “over/under” lines for swimmers’ times in certain races while placing wagers on the outcomes. 

While the athletes had not placed bets on opposing teams or any other Notre Dame athletic events, according to the same source, the review revealed “numerous violations of NCAA rules prohibiting gambling on intercollegiate swimming and other athletic competitions”. 

This occurred “despite clear and recurrent training provided to all our student-athletes” by the University’s Athletics Compliance staff. 

According to Bevacqua, the same investigation also “confirmed and expanded” their original concerns about a “deeply embedded team culture” dismissive of the University’s “standards for student-athletes, including our expectation that they treat one another with dignity and respect”.

According to the same source, the team had set up a group text chat that was filled with derogatory messages and remarks.

However, no evidence of physical abuse or hazing was found.

“These findings are contrary to the University’s values and all that we stand for in Notre Dame Athletics.”

Coaching Staff Members, Unaware of the Problems 

Bevacqua further explained that coaching staff members, who fully cooperated with the review, did not know of the gambling that the swimming team was engaged in or of the actual extent of their troubling behaviors. 

Once they found out about a series of isolated incidents, they tackled them with seriousness and professionalism, explained Bevacqua.

Head coach Chris Lindauer and his staff were not subject to any disciplinary measures. 

While not all team members were involved, “the overwhelming cultural dynamic on the team necessitates a full suspension,” explained Bevacqua in his statement. 

He added that the University “profoundly” regrets that the small number of team members who did not engage or who wanted to join the team this fall will also suffer the consequences of the suspension.

Athletes who wish to transfer, incoming freshmen included, will get the chance to do so before classes begin on August 27. 

The women’s swimming team and the men’s and women’s diving teams were not involved or affected by the suspension. 

Last September, Iowa State football star Jake Remsburg was suspended for violating NCAA’s gambling rules, joining a list of teammates including Isaiah Lee, DeShawn Hanika, and Jirehl Brock who were involved in the same betting scandal.

During the same month, the NCAA denied Iowa defensive lineman Noah Shannon’s appeal after the athlete confessed to wagering on another Hawkeyes team, which resulted in a season-long suspension.