John Geddert
{{Short description|American gymnastics coach (1957–2021)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| image = John Geddert.jpg
| caption = Geddert at the 2012 London Olympics
| birth_name = John Gerald Geddert
| birth_date = {{birth date|1957|12|21}}
| birth_place = Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
| baptised =
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2021|02|25|1957|12|21}}
| death_place = Watertown Charter Township, Michigan, U.S.
| death_cause = Suicide by gunshot
| education = Alpena High School
(1974–76)
| alma_mater = Central Michigan University
(Class of 1980)
| years_active = 1976–2018
| known_for = Coach of Jordyn Wieber
Ties to Larry Nassar and the USA Gymnastics sex abuse scandal
| spouse = Kathryn Geddert
| children = 3
| module2 = Notable gymnasts
| module3 = Thema Williams
Jordyn Wieber
}}
John Gerald Geddert (December 21, 1957 – February 25, 2021) was an American artistic gymnastics coach, who was a head coach of the gold-medal 2012 U.S. women's Olympic team and regular coach of team member Jordyn Wieber.{{cite web|url=http://region5.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/John-Geddert-Biography.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312070248/http://region5.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/John-Geddert-Biography.pdf|title=John Geddert Biography|archive-date=March 12, 2016|url-status=dead}} He retired when suspended by USA Gymnastics in 2018 after being implicated in the USA Gymnastics sex abuse scandal centered on his long-time associate Larry Nassar.{{cite news|url=http://www.intlgymnast.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4991:usag-suspends-coach-geddert-after-abuse-allegations&catid=2:news&Itemid=166|title=USAG Suspends Coach Geddert After Abuse Allegations|last1=Turner|first1=Amanda|date=January 22, 2018|work=International Gymnast Magazine Online|access-date=January 23, 2018|language=en-gb}} Geddert committed suicide in 2021, shortly after being charged with 24 criminal charges, including 20 counts of human trafficking of a minor, one count each of first-degree criminal sexual assault, second-degree criminal sexual assault involving a minor, and lying to a police officer.{{cite news|first1=Beth|last1=LeBlanc|first2=Kim|last2=Kozlowski|newspaper=The Detroit News |title=Ex-U.S. Olympics gymnastics coach with ties to Nassar kills himself after being charged |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2021/02/25/john-geddert-criminal-charges-larry-nassar-us-olympics-gymnastics/4569105001/|date=February 25, 2021}}
Gymnastics clubs
From 1984, Geddert was head coach at Great Lakes Gymnastics Club in Lansing, Michigan, where he first worked with Larry Nassar.{{cite news |last1=Barr |first1=John |title=Gymnastics club settles Nassar suit for $2.1M |url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/26596680/gymnastics-club-settles-nassar-suit-21m |access-date=September 27, 2020 |work=ESPN.com |date=April 25, 2019}} In 1988, Geddert was named Male Coach of the Year for the United States Gymnastic Federation in Michigan.{{cite news |title=Geddert, Klayges named top male, female coaches |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72085633/geddert-klayges-named-top-male-female/ |access-date=February 26, 2021 |work=Lansing State Journal |date=October 25, 1988}} He won the Federation's Regional Coach of the Year award in 1990 and 1991.{{cite news |title=Gymnast wins regional honor |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72091664/gymnast-wins-regional-honor/ |access-date=February 26, 2021 |work=Lansing State Journal |date=July 31, 1991 |pages=18}} He was later fired from Great Lakes Gymnastics Club.{{cite news |last1=Rivers |first1=Jeff |title=Changes force Teft to shift training sites |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72091877/changes-force-teft-to-shift-training/ |access-date=February 26, 2021 |work=Lansing State Journal |date=June 26, 1996}} In 1996, Geddert founded the Twistars USA Gymnastics Club in Dimondale.{{cite news |last1=Lacy |first1=Eric |title=Accomplished, controversial coach: A timeline of John Geddert's career in gymnastics |url=https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/2018/02/09/timeline-john-geddert/310898002/ |access-date=September 27, 2020 |work=Lansing State Journal |date=February 9, 2018}} The club has a back room, where Nassar regularly treated and sexually molested young female athletes.{{cite news |title=Police search home, gym of coach John Geddert, who worked with Larry Nassar |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/olympics/gymnastics/story/_/id/28534761/police-search-home-gym-coach-john-geddert-worked-larry-nassar |access-date=September 27, 2020 |agency=Associated Press |work=ESPN.co.uk |date=January 22, 2020}} In 2018, Geddert handed over ownership and management of the gym to his wife, Kathryn, in the wake of the Nassar sex abuse scandal.{{cite news |last1=Banta |first1=Megan |title=Twistars, Gedderts would pay $2.1 million on top of USA Gymnastics settlement with Nassar survivors |url=https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/local/2020/01/31/twistars-john-kathryn-geddert-usa-gymnastics-nassar-settlement/4621113002/ |access-date=September 27, 2020 |work=Lansing State Journal |date=January 31, 2020}}
Coaching style
Many former gymnasts have described Geddert's coaching style as intense, strict, and abusive. Several former gymnasts have recounted that Geddert repeatedly told them to kill themselves.{{Cite news|first=Dan|last=Murphy|url=http://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/22202814/former-gymnast-lindsey-lemke-says-suspended-usa-gymnastics-coach-john-geddert-prison|title=Ex-gymnast: Geddert 'deserves to be in jail'|work=ESPN|date=January 24, 2018|access-date=January 25, 2018}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.wilx.com/content/news/Survivors-accuse-Geddert-of-abuse-470779703.html|title=Survivors accuse Geddert of abuse|work=WILX|date=January 18, 2018|access-date=January 25, 2018|language=en}} He was known to throw items in his gym when angered. On one occasion, Geddert shoved a gymnast forcefully enough for her to sustain a black eye, ruptured lymph nodes in her neck, and torn muscles in her stomach. In 2013, Geddert was under criminal investigation for his abusive treatment of gymnasts. The Eaton County Prosecutor's office stated there was enough evidence to charge Geddert, but allowed Geddert to seek counseling instead. In December 2013, a former employee of Geddert contacted USA Gymnastics to inform them of Geddert's abuse of his athletes. USA Gymnastics stated they addressed the letter writer's concerns with Geddert, though the specific actions by USA Gymnastics were never made public. Geddert retired from coaching on January 23, 2018, one day after USA Gymnastics announced that he was suspended pending an investigation into his alleged abuse.
Involvement in U.S. sexual abuse scandal
Geddert's long-time association with Larry Nassar, who was convicted of sexually assaulting at least 150 women and girls, caused legal troubles for Geddert.{{Cite news|first1=John|last1=Barr|first2=Dan|last2=Murphy|url=http://www.espn.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/22046031/michigan-state-university-doctor-larry-nassar-surrounded-enablers-abused-athletes-espn|title=OTL: Michigan State among those that enabled serial sex abuser|work=ESPN|date=January 16, 2018|access-date=January 18, 2018}} Geddert and Nassar's close personal and professional relationships have led some to suspect that Geddert was aware of Nassar's abuse but did nothing about it. Many former gymnasts and parents have asserted that the intense and abusive environment Geddert created in his gym allowed for Nassar, a regular volunteer at Geddert's gym, to easily groom gymnasts and gain their trust. Several gymnasts have admitted that Geddert created such a hostile environment that they were unable to approach Geddert about the abuse.{{Cite news|first=Alexandra|last=Ilitch|url=https://wlns.com/2018/01/16/owner-of-popular-twistars-gymnastics-club-faces-abuse-allegations/|title=Owner of popular Twistars Gymnastics Club faces abuse allegations|date=January 17, 2018|work=WLNS|access-date=January 18, 2018|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180117100134/https://www.wlns.com/2018/01/16/owner-of-popular-twistars-gymnastics-club-faces-abuse-allegations/|archive-date=January 17, 2018|url-status=dead}} At least one former gymnast testified that Geddert walked in on a supposed medical session while Nassar was penetrating her with his fingers. The witness stated that Geddert joked about her injury and left the room.{{Cite news|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/sd-sp-larry-nassar-faces-his-victims-in-court-20180116-story.html|title=Hot reads: Gymnastics doctor faces the victims he sexually abused|last=Leonard|first=Tod|work=The San Diego Union-Tribune|date=January 16, 2018|access-date=January 18, 2018|language=en-US}}
Prosecution and death
On February 25, 2021, Geddert was charged with 24 felony crimes: 14 counts of human trafficking-forced labor resulting in injury, six counts of human trafficking of a minor for forced labor, and one count each of continuing criminal enterprise, first-degree criminal sexual conduct, second-degree criminal sexual conduct, and lying to a police officer during a violent crime investigation.{{Cite news|last1=Maese|first1=Rick|last2=Hobson|first2=Will|title=Ex-Olympic gymnastics coach dies by suicide hours after being charged with human trafficking, sex crimes|language=en-US|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/02/25/john-geddert-gymnastics-human-trafficking/|access-date=February 27, 2021|issn=0190-8286}} Hours after being charged, Geddert fatally shot himself at a rest area off Interstate 96 in Watertown Charter Township, Michigan.{{cite news|last1=Kozlowski |first1=Kim |title=Ex-U.S. Olympics gymnastics coach with ties to Nassar kills himself after being charged |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2021/02/25/john-geddert-criminal-charges-larry-nassar-us-olympics-gymnastics/4569105001/ |access-date=February 25, 2021 |work=Detroit News |date=February 25, 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Li |first1=David K. |title=Former U.S. gymnastics coach dies by suicide after arrest on sex crimes charges |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/former-u-s-gymnastics-coach-arrested-charged-alleged-sex-crimes-n1258862 |work=NBC News |access-date=February 25, 2021 |language=en |date=February 25, 2021}}{{cite news|url =https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/ny-john-geddert-reportedly-dies-by-suicide-after-being-charged-20210225-gqp4csfhi5fpvnty6lagjmuoze-story.html|title = Ex-Olympics gymnastics coach John dies by suicide after being charged with sex crimes, human trafficking|last = Oliveira|first = Nelson|date = February 25, 2021|accessdate = February 26, 2021|work = Daily News|location=New York|archivedate=February 26, 2021|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226182728/https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/ny-john-geddert-reportedly-dies-by-suicide-after-being-charged-20210225-gqp4csfhi5fpvnty6lagjmuoze-story.html}}{{cite news|url =https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/25/us/john-geddert-usa-gymnastics-coach-charged/index.html | title = John Geddert, who had ties to Larry Nassar, found dead after being charged with human trafficking and sex crimes, officials say|date = February 25, 2021|accessdate = February 25, 2021|publisher = CNN|author=Simko-Bednarski, Evan; Vera, Amir}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20170716055644/http://thegymnasticscoach.com/ Official website (archived from July 2017)]
{{Footer USA Gymnastics 2012 Summer Olympics}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Geddert, John}}
Category:American gymnastics coaches
Category:Central Michigan University alumni
Category:People from Alpena, Michigan
Category:Sports coaches from Michigan
Category:Suicides by firearm in Michigan