Swim exodus continues

Another UH assistant follows the former coach out the door

JiaLin Sun left her job as University of Hawaii assistant swimming coach yesterday, the latest in a string of coaches and athletes to depart from the program after head coach Mike Anderson's contract was not extended last summer.

"Today's my last official day," said Sun, who came to UH as a graduate assistant in 2001. "Part of the reason is that Mike was terminated with no reason. Overall, it is how the new head coach (Victor Wales) and I don't have a shared vision and philosophy."

Also, Anderson said yesterday a grievance he filed has reached the Manoa chancellor's office and is "being independently investigated" by an HGEA agent and a university official.

"Stage one was meeting with (athletic director) Herman Frazier and nothing came of that," Anderson said. "We're at stage two. The union is actively and vigorously pursuing it as wrongful termination."

Frazier expressed confidence in Wales.

"While there have been some transitional issues, we feel very good about the direction of our swimming and diving programs under the leadership of head coach Victor Wales," he said last night.

"In regards to personnel matters, they are being handled internally."

Anderson, who was hired in 2001 by former athletic director Hugh Yoshida, said he was let go by Frazier without explanation.

One of Anderson's other assistants, Chris Mooney, applied to replace him, but did not get the job. Mooney and top women's swimmer Melanie Schlanger left the team in December.

Anderson said three other swimmers who also competed in last year's NCAA championships have since left the team. They are sophomore Cassie Hunt, senior Joy Symons and junior Chad Thomsen. (Symons graduated last December, but could have returned to complete the season.)

Sophomore captain Joe Andrews also left, as did freshmen Matt Irwin and Michael Schuber, Anderson said.

Both teams compete next week at conference championships. The women are at the Western Athletic Conference championships in San Antonio and the men at the Conference USA championships in Houston.