A Title IX investigation by the Department of Justice has found that the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) was aware of allegations of sexual assault, harassment, and discrimination by former swimming and diving head coach Chad Cradock, but failed to adequately address the issues as required.

The investigation, launched in November 2020 after the DOJ received complaints about Cradock’s alleged misconduct, determined that between 2015 and 2020, UMBC violated its Title IX obligations despite being aware of the allegations. According to the report, this subjected many student-athletes to sexual discrimination, including unwanted sexual touching and harassment, which they felt was a condition for participating in university athletics.

Cradock was placed on leave in October 2020 and passed away in March 2021. The DOJ concluded that UMBC must take corrective steps to remedy these failures and come into compliance with Title IX regulations.

The extensive investigation involved outreach efforts, four campus visits, and a review of nearly 200,000 pages of documents, over 100,000 of which related specifically to allegations within the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams.

UMBC is working to resolve these issues through a comprehensive Settlement Agreement. Measures include implementing reforms to enhance the accountability and independence of the university’s Title IX office, expanding training to improve responses and prevention efforts, and providing targeted support to ensure the safety and well-being of student-athletes.