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Cal announced last Thursday that long-time men’s swimming coach Nort Thornton had officially retired.
But according to reports by Swimming World Magazine, it looks like Thornton—who coached the Bears for 33 years—was let go by the university.
Swimming World Magazine received this email from Thornton shortly before the university announced his retirement.
I just came away from a meeting with Sandy Barbour, our Athletic Director, and she has released me from the position of Head Swimming Coach here at Cal. She intends to go on a full search for a new coach for this Fall. So that is it, pure and simple.
I want to thank all of you for your part in Cal Swimming and I will miss every one of you. Nort
Swimming World Magazine also interviewed Thornton, and he further explained the circumstances regarding his leaving Cal. Apparently, Thornton “retired” last year to open up some money to offer co-head coach Mike Bottom to stay with the Bears. However, Bottom left Cal to coach an independent swimming club.
“When Mike resigned to take over The Race Club, I think that the athletics department took this as an opportunity to make a change. They said that they did not want me on deck or to go to Nationals so that they could begin with a job search.”
This sounds kind of shady. This also makes us wonder how many of the recent resignations and retirements of Cal head coaches were actually initiated by that head coach. Or were these coaches leaving the university, forced by someone at the athletic department?
We really don’t know. All we can do is speculate.
Whatever the case is, it sounds pretty iffy to us. First, all the coaches that have left— Chris Huffins, Jan Brogan, Kevin Boyd and now Thornton—have all been relatively successful.
If the university is forcing these coaches out, why? Why change something that has been working the last few years?
Nort Thornton Retires as Cal Head Coach [Calbears.com]
Nort Thornton Gone From the University of California as Head Men’s Coach [Swimming World Magazine]
Nort Thornton Goes Deeper Into His Dismissal from the University of California [Swimming World Magazine]
Mike Bottom to Leave University of California to Take Helm of The Race Club [Swimming World Magazine]
Tags:Cal swimming, Nort Thornton, retirement, Swimming World Magazine
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Comments:
Sep 14, 2007 at 6:41 am
The problem is the AD. If it was not for football, she should be dismissed.Remember, that was not her hire. It seems that if a coach is doing well they are in danger of dismissal; is this a personality disorder that is driving the AD?
Jul 29, 2007 at 4:53 pm
Nice reporting Gerald, very nice. I for one will tip my hat to the greatest Oski look-alike ever. Thank you Nort.