Niagara swim coach out following sexual harassment lawsuit

Niagara University is searching for a swimming and diving coach to replace Ben Nigro less than two weeks after he was named in a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by three female team members.

The school in western New York cited the lawsuit in declining to reveal on Tuesday whether the 47-year-old Nigro resigned, was fired or was re-assigned.

Nigro coached both the men’s and women’s teams over the past 13 seasons. His name and biography have been removed from the athletic department’s website, which lists only Josh Larcom, who is entering his second season as diving coach.

The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference program also said it was seeking to hire an assistant swimming and diving coach.

Last month, one current swimmer and two former women’s team members filed a lawsuit in Buffalo district court. They said they were subjected to gender-based harassment, including being body shamed during joint practices, ranked by physical appearance and called vulgar names over the past three years.

They also alleged that Nigro made sexual remarks, ridiculed them for lodging complaints and failed to take appropriate action.

The private Catholic school based in Lewiston, New York, said it has hired a national law firm to investigate the allegations.