Notre Dame swimming should be celebrating. But an investigation into culture concerns changes things
We made a deal.
For years, there was little reason to venture to that one part of the Joyce Center — through Heritage Hall, veer left, then straight back to the furthest corner of the building, where a pair of glass doors separate you from the unmistakable scent of chlorine — for a story.
For a NotreDame men’s swimming and diving story.
Little reason indeed, until earlier this month when rising senior sprinter Chris Guiliano was on the cusp of doing something that no Fighting Irish swimmer has done in the modern era — earning a roster spot on the United States team for an upcoming Olympics. Guiliano recently did, qualifying in three events — the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle — while earning likely consideration for roles on the relay teams for this summer’s Paris Games.
Guiliano was the obvious angle, but there was more to this swimming story.
Something was happening in that far back corner of the old building. Head coach Chris Lindauer, who just finished his second season in South Bend, was building something, building a program that rocketed to 10th place nationally this past season and positioned to chase a national championship in 2024-25.
The program was that good.
While the story that day earlier this month was Guiliano, there were more stories waiting to be told, more reasons to visit those cramped but comfortable offices where confidence — you don’t want to be great, don’t bother walking through those doors — radiates off just about everyone and everything.
You promised Lindauer that you’d be back, maybe sooner than later. There was too much good going on, too much energy in that program, in his program, to dismiss. Come back and tell our stories, Lindauer said. Whenever. On whomever.
Deal.
But this one? The one that Sports Illustrated writer Pat Forde, who knows those college and USA swimming circles as well as anyone with a notepad and a laptop, dropped on social media early Tuesday evening?
News that Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua, still so new on and to the job that he probably hasn’t finished decorating his first-floor Joyce Center office, circulated an email in his department regarding “recently received reports of potential issues with the culture of our men’s swimming and diving team.”
What? That team? Lindauer’s team? The one that includes Guiliano?
In any other offseason, the three posts from Forde on X (formerly Twitter) barely/rarely moves the meter. Especially in June. It surfaces quietly (if at all) and fades quickly. Not this offseason. Not under this head coach. Not for this program.
It’s not nothing. It may be something. It could mean everything.
Looking forward to his swim in Indianapolis and how he got to where he was going, Guiliano pointed to the Irish program. He praised the culture, a culture that is seemingly in question.
“There’s a huge culture shift in our attitudes toward the sport,” Guiliano said. “We go out there and grind, be there for one another. It’s incredible to see that growth around here and the mindset toward the goals that we have.”
Following Guiliano’s A-plus effort in Indianapolis last week, arrangements were made through Notre Dame to again sit with Guiliano and Lindauer this week. As a bonus storyline, Lindauer was named this week a Team USA assistant coach. Guiliano and Lindauer are both headed to Paris.
Two columns for one. We’ll make it happen, Notre Dame promised.
Instead, only radio silence from the communications team. No word Monday on the sit-down with Guiliano and Lindauer. No word Tuesday, either. Then Sports Illustrated comes off the top rope with the Bevacqua email.
Scrap that scheduled column with Guiliano for Friday’s Tribune. There won’t be one. No feel-good piece on him or on his head coach. We won’t hear from Guiliano anytime soon. In Paris. Maybe. We won’t hear from Lindauer anytime soon. In Paris. Maybe.
Instead of comments about a chance to chase gold in Paris, we hear/see words like “internal inquiry” and “outside counsel” and “potential issues.”
Ranks have closed. Wagons have circled. According to Bevacqua’s staff email, upon Notre Dame “learning of the potential issues” outside counsel (Ropes & Gray) has been retained by the University Office of General Counsel to “conduct a timely, independent review of the program.”
Bevacqua promised the review would be “fair and complete.” That doesn’t sound good. Sounds like there might be something there. You know what it also sounds like? It sounds like something that’s impossible to completely shake, no matter the outcome.
A permanent Perma cloud.
You know how this ends? Probably with a news dump/university press release, preferably on a Friday afternoon. Good news? Bad news? Does it matter? Either way, too few will care. Besides, how many more days until football season?
This week for Notre Dame men’s swimming and diving was supposed to be one of its finest hours. Instead, heavy lifting may be required to keep it from being the start of one of the darkest.
