LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — A lawsuit filed Friday alleges that a "sexually hostile culture" was created and maintained at the University of Kentucky under the guidance of former head swim coach Lars Jorgensen. The lawsuit targets Jorgensen, the university, Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart, and former head swim coach Gary Conelly.
Jorgensen was the coach from 2013 to 2023. He was suspended without pay in May of 2023 and later resigned from the position.
Two former UK swimmers and later employees of the swim team filed the lawsuit alleging inappropriate sexual relationships and assaults, some of which they say were reported to the university and allegedly not investigated.
The lawsuit claims that the university allowed Jorgensen to create an environment within the swim team to "prey on, sexually harass, and commit horrific sexual assaults and violent rapes."
Other allegations of sexual misconduct from Jorgensen's time at the University of Toledo are included in the lawsuit.
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky.
University of Kentucky spokesman Jay Blanton released the following statement:
Mr. Jorgensen is no longer an employee of the University of Kentucky. We do not, as a matter of policy, discuss specific personnel issues. However, it is important to note several things:
1. We take concerns that are raised about the conduct of an employee or potential employee very seriously. We review any such concerns before a hire is made or an employee is retained. Background checks are conducted on prospective employees.
2. When issues between employees (or any members of our community) involve concerns over allegations of harassment or misconduct it is the policy and expectation of the institution that such activity be immediately reported to the appropriate officials for review, such as our Office for Institutional Equity and Equal Opportunity (IEEO).
3. Our Athletics Department takes those issues and those policies very seriously as the welfare and well-being of all of our employees and students is a priority.
4. Finally, in such cases, a victim or complainant is reached out to a number of times during the course of a review. It is entirely up to the victim or complainant to decide whether they want to participate in such a review or not. Part of ensuring the well-being of our people is giving them the opportunity to decide whether they want to participate in an investigation of this kind.
You can read the entire lawsuit below:
