Report: Stanford Water Polo Coach Brian Flacks Being Investigated Over Retaliation Allegations
04/02/2025 03:10 PM
By Keith Dunlap on SwimSwam
Less than two months after the conclusion of one investigation against Stanford water polo coach Brian Flacks, another university investigation is underway, according to a report in the Orange County Register.
Stanford is investigating whether Flacks and members of his staff are retaliating against players on the team for participating in the previous investigation that alleged abusive conduct by Flacks.
On Feb. 13, the university sent an "outcome" letter to Flacks saying that his conduct had not risen to a level of bullying and that he didn't intentionally bully any players.
The new investigation is looking into allegations from at least 10 people that Flacks harassed and threatened players for making comments to a consultant hired by the university to conduct the original probe, according to the article, which came out after administrator emails were obtained by the Southern California News Group.
According to an account cited in the article, Flacks yelled phrases "You put the (expletive) nail in the coffin for me" and "you talk (expletive" about me behind my back while raising the possibility of dismissing a player from the team.
In emails and letters sent to university president Jonathan Levin and other Stanford officials, one player said he feels "unsafe on campus" and that Flacks didn't "dial down his most egregious impulses" after the first investigation concluded.
"Flacks dialed up his anger, retribution and vindictiveness," one player wrote in a letter to Stanford vice provost Patrick Dunkley. "It is no exaggeration to say that he wouldn't WAIT to retaliate. When that pitiful little meeting ended on February 18, after Flacks said, 'I'm still the coach,' he concluded with, 'One-on-one meetings start tomorrow.' And during these meetings, these players were threatened, bullied, insulted and retaliated against."
Dunkley has had meetings and conversations with Stanford players and their parents in recent weeks over the retaliation allegations.
Players and parents thought any comments provided to an outside investigator in the original probe would remain confidential, but feel the university hasn't done enough to protect against retaliation.
"We represent multiple families whose sons play on the Stanford Men's Water Polo Team," said Paula Bliss, co-founder/partner of Justice Law Collaborative. "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. 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."
Dunkley wrote to players and parents that "Stanford representatives will have a conversation with the coach to affirm the non-retaliation policy, and to advise the coach that any retaliation or other improper action will be promptly addressed."
Flacks was hired before the 2022 season from Harvard-Westlake High School. The Cardinal went 22-5 last season, losing to UCLA in a national semifinal, 17-14.
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