U. of Utah will not renew contract of swim coach suspended amid sex abuse investigation

The University of Utah said Monday it will not renew the contract of suspended head swim and dive coach Greg Winslow when it comes up for renewal in June.

The decision is in "the interest of our current student-athletes, future recruits and the general well-being of our swimming and diving program," Utah athletics director Chris Hill said in a statement, adding Winslow would remain on paid administrative leave until further notice as an investigation into sexual abuse allegations against him proceeds. "Our swimming and diving program is an important part of our athletic department and we are invested in its future. We will begin a search for a new coach immediately."

First-year assistant James Winchester will become interim swim coach, while Richard Marschner will coach the divers, the U. said.

The swim team is in Federal Way, Wash., for the Pac-12 Swim & Dive Championships. Neither coach was available for comment.

Monday's announcement came as Yahoo Sports reported that evidence in the investigation into Winslow includes a recorded phone call between the coach and the alleged victim, now 22.

Details about the call are part of a 97-page Arizona State University police report Yahoo Sports obtained. The Salt Lake Tribune also is in the process of obtaining the report.

In the call, which the report says occurred on Nov. 18, 2012, Winslow apologizes for kissing and misleading the girl, who was 15 and a member of an Arizona club team Winslow coached in 2007 when the alleged abuse occurred.

Before coming to the U. of U. six years ago, Winslow was assistant men's swimming coach at ASU from 2003-2007. He also was head coach of the Sun Devil Aquatics club beginning in 2005, a club not directly affiliated with ASU.

The alleged incidents, however, occurred at an ASU swimming facility rented by the Sun Devil club, according to a statement from the Maricopa County (Ariz.) Attorneys Office, which is reviewing the ASU police report.

In the call, the alleged victim asks: "What about for rubbing my breasts?"

"I'm sorry for that, too," Winslow responds.

According to Yahoo Sports, paraphrasing the police report, Winslow said he did nothing beyond kissing the alleged victim on her swim cap.

"Never fondled for sure. A hundred percent for sure never fondled," Winslow said, adding he apologized so, "she could get better."

Winslow could not immediately be reached for comment Monday.

Yahoo Sports said the alleged victim came forward after a failed suicide attempt in 2012.

No charges had been filed in the case as of Monday morning but the U. of U. suspended Winslow Thursday pending the outcome of the Arizona investigation.

martyr@sltrib.com