Stanford Opening Second Probe into Water Polo Retaliation
Stanford University recently cleared men’s water polo coach Brian Flacks of allegations of abusive behavior but is now probing reports of retaliation against his accusers, according to a report by the San Francisco Chronicle.
Flacks was investigated last fall after complaints by parents about his treatment of student-athletes. The university’s investigation, “did not substantiate the claims that were raised,” per a letter sent to Flack at the conclusion of the probe. But since, parents have come forward and retained representation, alleging the Flack has been trying to rid the program of people who may have cooperated with the previous investigation.
“These families are extremely concerned about the mental health of their sons and their teammates as a result of the psychological and emotional trauma they’ve experienced under Coach Brian Flacks,” read a statement to the Chronicle from Paula Bliss, a partner at Justice Law Collaborative. “Their sons have faced targeted retaliation by Coach Flacks following the close of the investigation. The University has shown a complete lack of regard towards its student athletes by failing to protect them. The fact that Stanford continues to allow this coach to be poolside amidst the serious and specific allegations is appalling, but unfortunately, not surprising given the university’s recent history.”
Stanford is in the midst of a tumultuous period. It recently dismissed football coach Troy Taylor after allegations of abusive behavior toward staff. Longtime athletic director Bernard Muir resigned in February.
Bliss’s Justice Law Collaborative has sued the university before, representing soccer player Katie Meyer, who committed suicide in 2021, in a wrongful death suit.
Flacks is just the fifth head coach in program history, hired in March 2022. He set a program record by winning his first 17 matches in charge that fall, but the Cardinal failed to make the NCAA Tournament in 2022 and 2023. Stanford reached the Final Four in 2024, his third season in charge.
Flack was the aquatic director and head coach of the boys team at his alma mater, Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles, from 2011-22. He has coached the U.S. Under-18 national team and been an assistant for the senior team. He was recognized in 2014 by USA Water Polo with the Bill Barnett Distinguished Coaching Award as the country’s top youth coach and in 2019 with the Monte Nitzkowski Coaching Award as the top men’s coach in the country. He also founded LA Premier Water Polo Club.
Flack played for two years at UCLA and one at Loyola Marymount, graduating from the former in 2010. He represented the U.S. at the U-17 and U-19 levels.
Read the San Francisco Chronicle’s reporting on the matter here.
USA water polo needs to be burnt down and built back up. It’s the culture!!! These coach’s coach for USAWP and at high schools and colleges and the culture is abusive. Fire them all abs start over. It is the only way to fix it.