| Lars Jorgensen | |
| Fullname: | Lars Ploug Jorgensen |
| National Team: | United States |
| Strokes: | Freestyle |
| Collegeteam: | University of Tennessee |
| Birth Date: | September 1, 1970 |
| Birth Place: | San Diego, California[1] |
| Height: | 6feet |
| Weight: | 176lb |
Lars Ploug Jorgensen (born September 1, 1970) is an American former Olympic swimmer and college coach. In April 2024 the US Center for SafeSport suspended him temporarily for allegations of misconduct.
Jorgensen swam in high school at Mount Carmel High School in San Diego, and in college for the University of Tennessee ('94).[1] [2] [3]
Jorgensen represented the United States at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.[4] He competed in the preliminary heats of the men's 1,500-meter freestyle, and finished with the 23rd-best time overall (15:39.51).[4] [5]
In 1995 Jorgensen set the swim course record with 46:44 for that leg of the Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.[6] His swim record held until 2018, when Jan Sibbersen set the new fastest swim time in 46:29.[7] Jorgensen's swim time of 46:41 from 1998 does not count as valid course record, as he did not finish the Ironman World Championship that year.[8]
Jorgensen was the head coach of the swimming team for the University of Kentucky from 2014-23.[9] [10] He also previously coached at the University of Toledo from 2004-10, and coached at the University of Tennessee and Louisiana State University.[10] [11] [1]
He was suspended in 2019 for six days without pay for failure to report sexual harassment allegations made against one his staff members.[12]
Jorgensen was again suspended in November 2023.[12]
In April 2024, a Title IX sexual violence lawsuit was filed against Jorgensen which alleged that he would "prey on, sexually harass, and commit horrific sexual assaults and violent rapes against young female coaches and collegiate athletes who were reliant on him" during his time as swim coach at the University of Kentucky between 2013 and 2023, and also accused the university of "complicity."[13] [14] In addition to Jorgensen, former coach Gary Conelly, athletics director Mitch Barnhart, and the university itself were named in the lawsuit.
Emails from June 2012 revealed that Mark Howard, a former assistant swimming coach at the University of Toledo, informed both Barnhart and Conelly that Jorgensen was accused of having a sexual relationship with a female student he coached. Conelly, who at the time served as the University of Kentucky head swim coach, and Barnhart would hire Jorgensen nonetheless. Prior to the 2024 lawsuit, the University of Toledo allegation was also previously made public in 2014, when a softball coach suing the University of Toledo for sex discrimination stated Jorgensen "had a long term romantic relationship with a player. The University hired this player as an assistant coach and eventually promoted her to head coach, passing over top candidates for this position."[15]
Jorgensen and his lawyer denied the allegations, which include two of his former swimmers turned assistant coaches (including Briggs Alexander) alleging that he groomed and eventually raped them, and claims that the relationships he had with the two coaches were consensual.[16]
That same month, the US Center for SafeSport suspended Jorgensen temporarily for allegations of misconduct, and issued no-contact directives to him.[16]
Jorgensen resigned from his post as head coach of the Wildcats’ swim & dive program in June 2024.[12] [16]
He is the brother of fellow Olympic swimmer Dan Jorgensen.[4]