Swimming

Sage Hopkins on Enduring the 10+ Year Investigation of Scott Shaw: “Quitting never crossed my mind”

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By Garrett McCaffrey on SwimSwam

In the SwimSwam Podcast dive deeper into the sport you love with insider conversations about swimming. Hosted by Coleman HodgesGarrett McCaffrey, and Gold Medal Mel Stewart, SwimSwam welcomes both the biggest names in swimming that you already know, and rising stars that you need to get to know, as we break down the past, present, and future of aquatic sports.

Sage Hopkins just finished his 18th season as the Head Coach at San Jose State University. It was supposed to be the first season with some closure after a 13-year scandal that exposed student-athletes to an athletic trainer who molested athletes and the coverup that surrounded it.

Sage goes through the entire story, starting in 2009 when an athlete responded to his suggestion to go see the trainer, Scott Shaw, with, “No thanks. I don’t want to be molested.” From there 17 swimmers gave statements that were ignored and later destroyed, echoing the sentiment about Shaw’s “treatment.”

That 2010 investigation was the start of an embarrassing response from the SJSU Athletic Administration, despite multiple athletes from multiple sports complaining about Shaw. Coach Hopkins didn’t let that stop him from continuing to fight for the protection of the athletes but it Shaw remained at San Jose State until the pandemic in 2020.

This interview details the layers of corruption that allowed Shaw to stay, and even get promoted, over a decade after the first reports. Hopkins tells us about how he was treated within the athletic department and University because he refused to drop his complaints.

It’s a crazy story that every college coach should hear, and Hopkins is brave to share. Sage thanked many of the people who helped him eventually expose the violations and cover up but he wanted to make sure to mention that he was immensely grateful to Brian Mackenzie who was one of the very few people who publicly supported him throughout the entire process.

**Hopkin’s narrative follows publicly accessible information and critical comments were made in reference to previous administration. He is in full support of the current administration**

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Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the interviewed guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints of the hosts, SwimSwam Partners, LLC and/or SwimSwam advertising partners.

SwimSwam: Sage Hopkins on Enduring the 10+ Year Investigation of Scott Shaw: “Quitting never crossed my mind”

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