After years of internal conflict, disputes, and accusations of bullying, Coral Springs Swim Club is undergoing changes
Coral Springs, Florida – The city’s elected leaders are currently debating whether to sever relations with the organization that was hired to manage the renowned Coral Springs Swim Club, which has produced Olympic swimmers.
On Wednesday, the Coral Springs City Commission will decide whether to end the agreement with Swim Phish Inc., which is owned by the club’s former head coach Bruno Darzi.
Parents of swimmers made several accusations and counterclaims against Darzi, who left the program during the summer to become the associate head coach of the Boston College swim team, alleging bullying, intimidation, and abuse.
Ethan Persten, who was 15 at the time, informed the commission about the bullying and toxicity he encountered, bringing those claims to light during a public meeting last December.
“I experienced multiple instances of bullying,” Ethan stated. “Getting violently kicked on my back during practice was the worst.”
Many families left the club because of Darzi and the atmosphere he created, according to public statements made by his parents, Martha and Brian Persten, as well as others.
At a later municipal commission meeting, over a dozen parents, young swimmers, and club alumni expressed their support for Darzi. He also publicly defended himself.
The disturbance prompted the city and the U.S. Center for SafeSport, a nonprofit organization approved by the U.S. Congress to address abuse and misconduct in amateur sports, to undertake investigations and to file complaints with USA Swimming, the national governing body for competitive swimming.
The city discovered that it was unable to verify the claims made by the unhappy parents.
According to SafeSport, some parents were outraged when a coach was fired, and one of them quit as a result. Social media posts about the club were enraged as a result.
In a report to the city based on the SafeSport investigation, USA Swimming stated, “It is quite sad that because adults don’t like a decision, things have escalated and this has trickled down to the kids.”
The contract with Swim Phish Inc. for swim coach services was extended by Coral Springs city commissioners in May amidst the back and forth.
Soon after, Darzi declared his intention to go. He joined the Boston College swim team in July, where he was coached by Dara Torres, the most successful Coral Springs Swim Club alumnus. In June, she was appointed head coach of the college.
The parks and recreation department of the city is now suggesting that Coral Springs’ elected officials cancel the coaching arrangement with Swim Phish on December 20.
The agency intends to employ its own coaching staff in order to have “more daily oversight and control” over the city’s Aquatic Complex activities. According to city documents, it also intends to enter into a contract with a group of nearby parents to assist with swim meet arrangements.
Martha Persten expressed her satisfaction with the city’s takeover.
She is still worried, though, about the parent group’s composition and if Darzi’s “buddies” will be included.
“I support measures to prevent bullying. Bullying bothers me,” she remarked. “Justice is something I like. I want justice, which is why I’m not giving up.
