Mike Litzinger Resigns from Notre Dame, Retires from Coaching
Notre Dame coach Mike Litzinger has resigned as the head coach of the Notre Dame swimming and diving program, the school announced in a cryptic statement Monday. It added that, “in doing so (Litzinger) has also announced his intention to retire from the sport of swimming.”
Litzinger was hired by Notre Dame in 2015 after a successful tenure at North Carolina. He coached the women’s programs at St. Bonaventure from 1989-96 and the men’s and women’s teams at the University of Utah in 2000-07. He was hired by the University of North Carolina in 2007 and elevated to associate head coach of the Tar Heels in 2011.
“Making changes in the leadership of one of our programs is never easy, especially at the start of the competitive season, but recent events convinced Mike and me that a change in the direction of our program was necessary,” Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick said in the statement.
The university also cancelled a dual meet schedule for this week in order to reorganize and “develop an interim plan” for the season.
Associate head coach Aaron Bell is also no longer with Notre Dame. Diving coach Mark Bradshaw remains, and Notre Dame will search for a replacement.
Litzinger was the subject of a lawsuit filed earlier this year by former associate head coach April Jensen, alleging gender discrimination and the creation of an “intolerable” work environment by Litzinger.
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