GAINESVILLE, Florida, January 11. BRYAN Woodward, the head coach of the Gator Swim Club, was arrested Jan. 9 on charges of the use of a computer to solicit a child for sex and for travel to seduce a child for sex according to a source close to the situation. That source also stated that Woodward is currently being held in the Osceola County Jail.
After posting this story, the Osceola County Correctional Department confirmed to Swimming World that Woodward has paid two separate bonds, one for $10,000 and one for $1,500. The $10,000 bond is for the travel to seduce a child charge, while the $1,500 is for using a computer to solicit a child charge. As of 4:30 p.m. ET on Jan. 12, Woodward had been released to home confinement as he awaits trial.
Woodward has been terminated from his position with the Gator Swim Club, and USA Swimming has initiated its emergency board of review process, which can lead to membership suspension or a permanent ban and inclusion on the Banned for Life list.
Woodward took over as head coach of Gator Swim Club last year after serving a year as the team's Head Age Group Coach and Assistant International Coach. Prior to coaching at the Gator Swim Club, Woodward served as the head coach of the Glens Falls YMCA team from 2007-10. He also coached with the Longhorn Swim Camp in 2009, and spent time as a coach at the Bay and Ocean State Squids (2004-07), Brandeis University (2005-06) and at Middleboro YMCA (2000-04). He graduated from Bridgewater State University in 2004.
"It is our understanding that Bryan Woodward is in police custody and has been terminated from Gator Swim Club following an arrest this week. Our Athlete Protection staff has initiated USA Swimming's internal review and disciplinary process." USA Swimming spokesperson Jamie Olsen told Swimming World. "USA Swimming holds nothing higher than the safety and well-being of its athletes and members, and for that reason has a best-in-industry Athlete Protection program. The program includes a Code of Conduct governing all members, mandatory background checks and athlete protection education for all non-athlete members, pre-employment screening of all new coaches by clubs, a public listing of individuals suspended for life and a reporting and review system to address complaints of misconduct. This instance, as with any instance involving sexual misconduct, will be dealt with through the proper channel in order to foster safe environments for our athletes."
USA Swimming also confirmed that Woodward was current on his background checks, and had completed the Athlete Protection Education Program.