Coral Springs Swim Club Coach Keeps Job Amid Bullying Claims

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Coach Bruno Darzi speaking at the Coral Springs City Commission meeting on Wednesday, was comforted by a former coach.

By Kevin Deutsch

Coral Springs Swim Club head coach Bruno Darzi will keep his job following a city inquiry into allegations of bullying in the swim program.

In a report during Wednesday’s Coral Springs City Commission meeting, Deputy City Manager Dale Pazdra said he and Parks and Recreation Director Rob Hunter were contacted “by more than 50 different families and people coming forward expressing their concerns about the Coral Springs Swim Club, but also showing their support for the current coach, coach Bruno Darzi.”

“I have to say that we walked away from it, both Rob and I, with a feeling that there was still a majority of people out there supporting the swim club that’s being operated today. We did not get the sense that there was a prevalence of some of the allegations that were shared at the last meeting regarding a toxic environment and bullying. Quite the opposite.”

Pazdra added: “In our opinion, we were not able to substantiate a lot of the allegations shared last time with you, and that we were still considering how we move forward as far as the current contracted arrangement [with Darzi].”

Several residents, including former swim club member Ethan Persten, 15, made allegations of bullying and a toxic culture in the swim program at the commission’s Dec. 6 meeting. They said the issues had led to an exodus of swimmers from the club and called for another coach to take the program’s helm.

The allegations prompted an outpouring of support from Darzi’s numerous backers, including many former and current club members who refuted the allegations, lauded Darzi’s abilities, and spoke glowingly of the swim program’s culture.

Before making his report, Pazdra said he and Hunter spoke with “current parents of students, with the coaching staff, with the head coach himself, and obviously some of the board members and even some of the parents, former parents, of people who were swim club members.”

The men remain available to hear from others, he said.

City Manager Frank Babinec said city staff would “continue to closely monitor this and make sure that we’re on top of anything that’s happening” involving the swim club.

“We’ll be bringing back recommendations to the commission at the appropriate time. But at this time, we have no recommendations on [Darzi’s] contract itself.”

Also, during Wednesday’s meeting, a long list of current and former swim club members spoke in support of Darzi. They praised the club and its coaches while pushing back against the bullying claims.

Darzi also spoke, making his first public remarks since the controversy arose.

Choking up with emotion at times, the veteran coach told commissioners the swim club is part of the USA Swimming Safe Sport Club Recognition Program, one of 508 teams to earn that distinction out of a total of 2,662 clubs nationwide. The recognition program was created to respond to and prevent instances of abuse and misconduct in swim programs and is considered the gold standard for preventing and investigating misconduct in the sport.

“Our program and I have been falsely accused [of] bullying, and I know the truth will prevail, and we’ll get through this together,” Darzi said.

“I can tell [you] the tremendous outpouring of support from former swimmers, parents, and board members, and dozens of coaches from other teams that truly know me and our program has been overwhelming. It is amazing to see how our program has positively impacted thousands of people.”

Nicole Gautieri, 27, a former swim club member, said she joined when she was four and has known Darzi for 20 years.

“I believe it’s safe to say that I know this amazing coach, father, and man very well … I do not consider him just a swim coach. He is my second dad.”

“It would be a complete disgrace … to remove Bruno from the team and from his head coaching position,” Gautieri said.

Amid the praise piled on Darzi at Wednesday’s meeting, two speakers criticized the program’s culture and spoke of bullying in the club.

One was Ethan Persten’s father, Brian, who backed his son’s allegations and said bullying of the boy had continued online. Since Ethan Persten made the bullying allegations, supporters of Darzi have attacked the teen’s claims by citing the fact that Brian Persten is a registered sex offender, the father said.

Another speaker was former swim club parent Sandra Fico, who made new bullying allegations.

Fico, whose children were in the swim program from 1991 to 2015, said she noticed a “shift in the paradigm” in the program around the time legendary former swim club coach Michael Lohberg was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder. He later died.

“Bullying was present, absolutely,” Fico said, describing changes that were contrary to the culture Lohberg had fostered. “My son was one of the people who endured a large amount of it. Bullying, mocking, [and] rivalry became the norm at one point.”

“I’m not here to attack any coach; I’m here because I’m concerned about bullying … It’s not acceptable if it’s occurring.”

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Author Profile

Kevin Deutsch

Kevin Deutsch is an award-winning journalist and author of two nonfiction books. He covers general assignment news and Jewish community issues for Talk Media. He has also worked as a staff writer at The Miami Times, the Rio Grande SUN, the New York Daily News, Newsday, The Miami Herald, The Palm Beach Post, The Riverdale Press, and Bronx Justice News.