I would love to share my story with you...I am 52 years old and have coached swimming for over 30 years. As a coach with a Twin Cities school district, with a record of 19/3 over 3 years, I was constantly bullied by the male A.D..

After attempting to talk to my booster club parents about the need for a new diving board (the existing one was not the correct size for the diving stand and was old and slippery, the A.D. brought me in his office and slammed his arms on his chair and said, "Don't EVER talk to the parents AGAIN!" Having just lived through my daughter's 1st Angel date (she was killed in a car accident July 29, 2006) I was so shook that I cried for two days over the treatment I received.

I avoided him the rest of the season in '07 and vowed never to sit in a room alone with him (I requested anyone else present when we met for my end of season evaluation.) I was not allowed that...Met with him in March of '08...Only to be given an evaluation that was inaccurate and I could not sign. Because I was given "an ultimatum to sign it or lose my job" I refused to sign and he terminated me by email. The parents and swimmers went ballistic and attended several school board meetings, and wrote over 100 affirming letters on my behalf...the board stuck with the male A.D. (with a puffy chest.)

They changed the terms when I sought legal help (told my attorney that the new A.D. did not have the authority to terminate me by email) and proceeded to say I had "deficient performance" so they simply did not renew my contract. Anyone who knows my coaching, knows I am anything but deficient in my performance. So it hurt me personally very much.

Unfortunately, the attorney I hired knew nothing about Title IX and felt there was little I could do. I settled for $5000 with the district (to make it all go away.)

The girls and parents would call crying all the next season. The young coach they hired was given a blank check to purchase anything she needed (since I was the donor of over $10,000 worth of equipment I bought for the program.)
They bent over backwards to give the mad parents anything they wanted...Still, the lack of experience from the new coach caused the girls to not achieve near what they could have.

Because there is such an "old boys network" in the Twin Cities regarding the male A.D.'s...subsequent attempts on my part to secure a new coaching position as a head coach were futile.Those "old boys" difinitely network.

My daughter suffered 3 strokes as a 14 year old girl (a result of Crohn's disease that came on quickly in her pre-pubescent age of 13-14...I tried to keep my own swim club at that time running (we even still won the Minnesota State Meet for Class A - Age group swimming) and when we thought she was finally able to attend college (though she got sick again in college) I coached at a high school and had to resign that position due to her ongoing hospitalizations.

Swimming/coaching swimming has been my joy for many years - and I'm good at it:) Now, I teach swimming and coach a small swimteam at a local fitness center...They are very good to me and constantly praise me calling me "a gem".

I am afraid no high school A.D. will ever hire me again due to the A.D. networking to keep me out. I actually have several girls from the former high school team who bought memberships so that they can still be coached by Peg...

The stories I have heard of how the new A.D. at the school overlooking MSHSL rules, etc...just to keep the peace with the now very angry parents and swimmers, are heartbreaking for me.

The football team at the school loses every game...Yet when that coach asked for something - he got it. I tried to protect the girls and school from serious liability with a delapitated diving board - and ultimately got pushed out.

I would love to help bring this issue of women coaches to the forefront where it should be...Please let me know how I can help. Thank you for "listening".

sincerely, Peg Sorensen