Notre Dame University has made the decision to suspend its men’s swimming program for at least one season due to violations of NCAA rules involving gambling. An external review found that there was a deeply embedded team culture dismissive of the school’s standards for student-athletes. This decision was made to uphold Notre Dame’s values and commitment to integrity in athletics.
Athletics director Pete Bevacqua stated that the review confirmed violations of NCAA rules prohibiting gambling on intercollegiate swimming competitions, despite clear training provided to student-athletes. While coaches and staff were unaware of the violations, the actions of some team members led to the suspension of the entire program.
The Associated Press reported that members of the team had created a makeshift sportsbook and were wagering on times at meets, with about 60% of the team participating. The NCAA prohibits athletes from betting on any sponsored sport, and Notre Dame is taking this violation seriously.
Notre Dame’s men’s swimming program had seen success in recent years, with two swimmers competing in the Summer Olympics and the team placing 10th nationally in 2024. Despite the suspension of the program, Notre Dame remains committed to supporting all student-athletes, even those not involved in the violations. The university will work with affected individuals to provide necessary support.
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