St. Thomas Academy's nationally honored high school swimming coach has been suspended over alleged improper behavior during the 2019 state meet that prompted his removal from the competition.
The Minnesota State High School League said Friday that it has suspended 15-time state champion coach John Barnes for the 2020 postseason and has accepted the school's decision to suspend him for the first three meets of the upcoming season.
The all-boys Catholic school in Mendota Heights conducted an internal investigation into the allegations and "provided a corrective action plan" to the high school league, league Executive Director Erich Martens said.
Along with the suspensions, Barnes must participate in professional development training, work with a mentor regarding coaching philosophy and methodologies, and be subjected to ongoing monitoring.
The league's executive committee reviewed the case during its regularly scheduled June 3 meeting and imposed the postseason suspension and accepted the school's sanctions against Barnes.
Martens said the sanctions address Barnes' "behaviors toward and treatment of his student-athletes" during final day of the 2019 Class 1A state meet in March at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center, where the Cadets finished fourth. Barnes was absent without explanation from the meet's second day.
Barnes has declined to return messages left by the Star Tribune for reaction to the punishment. As for St. Thomas, school spokeswoman Deborah Edwards did not mention the sanctions and only said last week that Barnes remains as coach.
About two weeks after Barnes was sanctioned, the school announced the immediate resignation of its headmaster, Matthew Mohs, explaining nothing more than he was moving on to the "next phase of his career." Mohs has so far declined to return messages seeking further information about his sudden departure and whether Barnes' suspension is connected.
