A longtime West Hills area swim coach has been temporarily suspended by the U.S. Center for SafeSport due to allegations of misconduct.
Jeffrey Berghoff, a coach with Tiger Aquatics, a nonprofit community aquatics organization and competitive swim club based in Moon Township, was issued a temporary suspension on Monday, June 29, according to the U.S. Center for SafeSport’s Centralized Disciplinary Database.
Berghoff also has served as the head swim coach at Moon Area High School and, according to the minutes from a May 11 Moon Area School District board of trustees meeting, he was rehired for the 2026-27 school year.
It’s not known if Berghoff’s status will change in light of his suspension by the Center for SafeSport. Alan Alcalde, Moon Area High School’s athletic director, said last week via email that the Moon Area School District does not discuss personnel matters. Jason D’Alesio, the district superintendent, said Monday he cannot comment on personnel matters.
The Center for SafeSport was authorized by Congress in 2017 to resolve abuse and misconduct reports for more than 11 million individuals throughout the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic movement. The center is working to help prevent abuse through education and accountability in a bid to end sexual, physical and emotional abuse on behalf of athletes.
The center’s database was designed specifically to inform the public if/when individuals participating in U.S. Olympic and Paralympic sports have either been found to have engaged in, or are alleged to have engaged in, forms of misconduct that present a potential risk to other members of the sport community.
According to the U.S. Center for SafeSport’s website, the center publishes only those decisions “that could pose a potential risk to the broader sport community.” These decisions include certain types of temporary restrictions, which can be put in place pending the center’s investigation into reported allegations, as well as when certain types of sanctions are imposed after a participant has been found to have violated the SafeSport Code.
Temporary measures, such as a temporary suspension, indicate the investigation is ongoing.
The SafeSport code defines the U.S. Center for SafeSport’s authority and jurisdiction, prohibited categories of abuse and misconduct, and the center’s process for responding to and resolving abuse and misconduct claims.
Hilary Nemchik, vice president for external affairs for the U.S. Center for SafeSport, said the organization does not comment on individual cases to protect the integrity of its investigative process.
But she said temporary measures, such as temporary suspensions, can be put in place while an investigation is ongoing. Those measures can be strengthened, reduced or removed at any point during the investigation.
Nemchik said investigations can be triggered by reports from witnesses, individuals who have personally experienced harm, staff or volunteers from a national governing body or local club, or even local news stories.
Nemchik said that anytime a temporary measure is imposed by the center, the respondent may challenge it by requesting a hearing.
Berghoff is listed on the database as a Coraopolis resident whose sport affiliation is USA Swimming.
USA Swimming is the national governing body for competitive swimming in the United States. Its mission, according to its website, is to “grow, support and elevate the sport of swimming by empowering athletes, coaches, clubs, and our broader community to achieve excellence at every level.”
Tiger Aquatics operates as a registered USA Swimming Club. Programming includes competitive swimming as well as beginner lessons, adult masters, lifeguarding courses and community open swim options, according to the organization’s website.
Berghoff said last week was not “at liberty” to discuss the allegations.
Dave McCowin, president of Tiger Aquatics, had no comment on the matter when contacted by phone.
Berghoff also is involved with swim programs at Montour Heights Country Club. Craig Swen, the club’s general manager and a member of the board, could not be reached for comment regarding Berghoff’s status.
Todd Sterlitz, general chair of the Allegheny Mountain Swimming executive committee, said, “As with all U.S. Center for SafeSport issues, we cannot comment on this at the local level.”
Sterlitz said all inquiries should be directed toward Elizabeth Hahn, the USA Swimming SafeSport director, but Hahn did not respond to a request for comment.
AMS is one of 59 Local Swimming Committees with responsibility under USA Swimming. AMS manages swimming competition in Western Pennsylvania and portions of West Virginia and Ohio.
According to the Tiger Aquatics website, Berghoff has been coaching in the Moon community since 2017 and has more than two decades of coaching experience at various levels. The website notes that Berghoff coached Oakland Catholic High School to the 1999 PIAA Class AA championship and coached at the 2004, 2008 and 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials.
He also served as an assistant head coach for women’s swimming at the University of Pittsburgh, a position he attained in the fall of 2005 after serving as assistant coach for women’s swimming and diving for six years. According to a 2010-11 University of Pittsburgh media guide for swimming and diving, Berghoff helped establish Pitt’s women’s swim team into a “competitive force” in the Big East Conference and also helped guide the men’s team to league titles in 2003 and 2004.
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