Richard Callaghan
Encyclopedia
Richard Callaghan is an American
figure skating
coach. He is best known as the long-time coach of Todd Eldredge
, 6-time U.S. Champion and 1996 World Champion. He also coached Nicole Bobek
to her national title, and Tara Lipinski
to U.S., World, and Olympic titles.
As a competitive skater, Callaghan was coached by Don Laws
. His best finish was 5th at the 1965 U.S. Championships. He turned professional in 1967, touring with Ice Capades
and Holiday on Ice
before he began to coach in 1972. He worked in Rochester, New York
, Philadelphia, Colorado Springs, and San Diego before settling in the Detroit area in 1992.
In March, 1999, Callaghan announced his resignation from his position at the Detroit Skating Club and his intention to retire at the end of that skating season. A few weeks later, the New York Times reported that Callaghan had been accused of sexual misconduct by Craig Maurizi, one of his former students who had continued to work with him for many years as a coaching assistant. Maurizi alleged that Callaghan had engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct with him beginning when he was 15 years old, more than 20 years previously. The Times article additionally quoted two other former students who also claimed to have been molested by Callaghan. For his part, Callaghan denied the charges and alleged that Maurizi was attempting to destroy his professional reputation as the result of a dispute the previous year that arose when Lipinski fired Callaghan and named Maurizi as her official coach.
Maurizi filed a grievance against Callaghan with the United States Figure Skating Association
(USFSA), but the grievance was dismissed without a hearing on the grounds that it had not been filed in a timely manner. Many observers in the skating world felt that the USFSA was attempting to sweep the incident under the rug, but as a consequence of the case and the publicity it caused, the USFSA did adopt a formal policy on sexual harassment
and other forms of abuse
, and has since taken aggressive action against other coaches accused of sexual misconduct with their students.
Callaghan claimed his planned retirement had nothing to do with the grievance and that he had simply grown tired of the travel and relentless grind of being a top international coach. However, he did not retire after all, but merely moved to another rink in the Detroit area where he continued to coach Eldredge and other skaters, including Angela Nikodinov
, Shizuka Arakawa
, and Jennifer Kirk
. He is currently based in Coral Gables, Florida
where he coaches Kimmie Meissner
. He now lives in Naples FL,and coaches at Germain Area, home to some of the best figure skaters in the country
Ice Dance (with Irma Staro)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
figure skating
Figure skating
Figure skating is an Olympic sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform spins, jumps, footwork and other intricate and challenging moves on ice skates. Figure skaters compete at various levels from beginner up to the Olympic level , and at local, national, and international competitions...
coach. He is best known as the long-time coach of Todd Eldredge
Todd Eldredge
Todd James Eldredge is an American figure skater. He is the 1996 World Champion and a six-time national champion .-Biography:...
, 6-time U.S. Champion and 1996 World Champion. He also coached Nicole Bobek
Nicole Bobek
Nicole Bobek is an American figure skater. She is the 1995 U.S. Champion and World bronze medalist.-Biography:An only child, Bobek was raised by her Czech mother, Jana, and her friend Joyce Barron...
to her national title, and Tara Lipinski
Tara Lipinski
Tara Kristen Lipinski is an American figure skater. At the age of 15, she won the Ladies' Singles Olympic gold medal in figure skating at the 1998 Winter Olympics. Lipinski remains the youngest individual gold medalist in the history of the Olympic Winter Games. She is also the 1997 World...
to U.S., World, and Olympic titles.
As a competitive skater, Callaghan was coached by Don Laws
Don Laws
Don Laws is an American figure skater and coach.As a competitive skater, he was a U.S. junior champion in single skating and ice dancing, as well as a World Team member. He was coached by Osborne Colson....
. His best finish was 5th at the 1965 U.S. Championships. He turned professional in 1967, touring with Ice Capades
Ice Capades
The Ice Capades was a traveling entertainment show featuring theatrical performances involving ice skating. Shows often featured former Olympicand National Champion figure skaters who had retired from amateur competition....
and Holiday on Ice
Holiday on Ice
Holiday on Ice is an ice show currently produced by Joop van den Ende's Stage Entertainment Group with its headquarters in Amsterdam, Netherlands...
before he began to coach in 1972. He worked in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, Philadelphia, Colorado Springs, and San Diego before settling in the Detroit area in 1992.
In March, 1999, Callaghan announced his resignation from his position at the Detroit Skating Club and his intention to retire at the end of that skating season. A few weeks later, the New York Times reported that Callaghan had been accused of sexual misconduct by Craig Maurizi, one of his former students who had continued to work with him for many years as a coaching assistant. Maurizi alleged that Callaghan had engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct with him beginning when he was 15 years old, more than 20 years previously. The Times article additionally quoted two other former students who also claimed to have been molested by Callaghan. For his part, Callaghan denied the charges and alleged that Maurizi was attempting to destroy his professional reputation as the result of a dispute the previous year that arose when Lipinski fired Callaghan and named Maurizi as her official coach.
Maurizi filed a grievance against Callaghan with the United States Figure Skating Association
United States Figure Skating Association
U.S. Figure Skating is the national governing body for the sport of figure skating on ice in the United States. It is recognized as such by the United States Olympic Committee "USOC" under the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act and is the United States member of the International Skating...
(USFSA), but the grievance was dismissed without a hearing on the grounds that it had not been filed in a timely manner. Many observers in the skating world felt that the USFSA was attempting to sweep the incident under the rug, but as a consequence of the case and the publicity it caused, the USFSA did adopt a formal policy on sexual harassment
Sexual harassment
Sexual harassment, is intimidation, bullying or coercion of a sexual nature, or the unwelcome or inappropriate promise of rewards in exchange for sexual favors. In some contexts or circumstances, sexual harassment is illegal. It includes a range of behavior from seemingly mild transgressions and...
and other forms of abuse
Abuse
Abuse is the improper usage or treatment for a bad purpose, often to unfairly or improperly gain benefit. Abuse can come in many forms, such as: physical or verbal maltreatment, injury, sexual assault, violation, rape, unjust practices; wrongful practice or custom; offense; crime, or otherwise...
, and has since taken aggressive action against other coaches accused of sexual misconduct with their students.
Callaghan claimed his planned retirement had nothing to do with the grievance and that he had simply grown tired of the travel and relentless grind of being a top international coach. However, he did not retire after all, but merely moved to another rink in the Detroit area where he continued to coach Eldredge and other skaters, including Angela Nikodinov
Angela Nikodinov
Angela Nikodinov , is an American figure skater. She is the 2000 Four Continents Champion.-Biography:Nikodinov is the daughter of Bulgarian immigrants and speaks Bulgarian fluently...
, Shizuka Arakawa
Shizuka Arakawa
is a Japanese figure skater.She is the 2006 Olympic Champion in Ladies Singles and the 2004 World Champion. Arakawa is the first Japanese skater to win an Olympic gold medal in figure skating and the second Japanese skater to win any Olympic medal in figure skating, after Midori Ito, who won silver...
, and Jennifer Kirk
Jennifer Kirk
Jennifer Anne "Jenny" Kirk is an American retired competitive figure skater. She is the 2000 World Junior Champion and the 2002 Four Continents Champion.- Biography :...
. He is currently based in Coral Gables, Florida
Coral Gables, Florida
Coral Gables is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, southwest of Downtown Miami, in the United States. The city is home to the University of Miami....
where he coaches Kimmie Meissner
Kimmie Meissner
Kimberly Claire "Kimmie" Meissner is an American figure skater. She is the 2006 World Champion, the 2007 U.S. National Champion, and the 2007 Four Continents Champion...
. He now lives in Naples FL,and coaches at Germain Area, home to some of the best figure skaters in the country
Results
Men's Singles| Event | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Championships United States Figure Skating Championships The United States Figure Skating Championships is figure skating competition held annually to crown the national champions of the United States. The competition is sanctioned by U.S. Figure Skating. In the U.S. skating community, the event is often referred to informally as "Nationals".Skaters... |
5th N. | 5th J. | 6th |
Ice Dance (with Irma Staro)
| Event | 1961 | 1962 |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Championships United States Figure Skating Championships The United States Figure Skating Championships is figure skating competition held annually to crown the national champions of the United States. The competition is sanctioned by U.S. Figure Skating. In the U.S. skating community, the event is often referred to informally as "Nationals".Skaters... |
3rd J. | 4th J. |