Local coach suspended from USA Swimming for three years

Longtime Southern California swim coach Bill Jewell has been banned for three years by USA Swimming for violations of its code of conduct.

Jewell had been coaching at Golden West Swim Club in Huntington Beach since the summer of 2011, and, before that, at Fullerton Aquatics Sports Team (FAST). According to USA Swimming, he waived his right on June 10 to a National Board of Review hearing and accepted the three-year membership ban, effective immediately.

The behavior that led to USA Swimming’s action occurred during Jewell’s stint at FAST.

Swimming World magazine’s website first reported the decision.

“USA Swimming’s case against Mr. Jewell was based on a pattern of inappropriate behavior, including making sexually explicit comments toward athletes and other individuals affiliated with the club,” USA Swimming said in a statement.

“There was no allegation of or evidence to support inappropriate sexual touching.”

In September, Dia Rianda, a former Golden West Swim Club team employee, sued Mark Schubert, an eight-time U.S. Olympic team swim coach, for wrongful termination, alleging he ignored complaints she had made regarding sexually inappropriate behavior displayed by Jewell.

Rianda charged that she was fired by Schubert after she complained about Jewell’s behavior. The matter is still pending in Orange County Superior Court.

Jewell had been a longtime associate of Schubert, including when Jewell was an assistant on Schubert’s staff at USC.

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