Kenrick Monk gets new gig as swimming coach at Cranbrook School

Kenrick Monk, who made headlines for posing with guns and making a false report to the Queensland Police during his career, has been named the swimming coach at one of Sydney’s most elite private schools.

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One of Australian swimming’s most renowned bad boys has landed a plum gig at a prestigious eastern suburbs private school.

Two-time Olympian Kenrick Monk has joined Cranbrook School, taking up the position as its new head swimming coach after retiring from the sport in the wake of the London 2012 Games.

Monk won gold and bronze medals as part of the men’s medley and freestyle relay teams at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

However he made headlines for the wrong reasons during his career.

In 2011 he and teammate Nick D’Arcy were heavily criticised for a Facebook post appearing to show the pair holding firearms.

Swimmer Kenrick Monk.

In the photo, Monk was snapped baring two pump-action shotguns while D’Arcy had two automatic pistols in his hands.

In 2012, he was reprimanded by Queensland Police and fined by Swimming Australia for making a false complaint to police that he had been injured in an elaborate hit and run, when he had in fact actually broken his elbow falling off his skateboard.

Ian Leavers, head of the Queensland Police Union at the time, labelled him “a boy who cried wolf”.

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In a statement, the elite school which educates the offspring of some of Sydney’s most wealthy and influential people said:

“Whilst there may be incidents in his past that are no doubt regrettable, as a provider of education to young boys, Cranbrook believes Kenrick’s recent record achievements as a coach demonstrate that he has diligently applied himself to learning from his mistakes, to continued improvement and striving for success; key values we work to instil in our students.”

The school added that Monk would make “an invaluable contribution” after being recommended for the role by senior members of the Australian swimming fraternity.

Former swimmer Kenrick Monk had turned to rowing after retiring from the pools. Pic Jono Searle.

“Kenrick’s swimming career is highly decorated, however it is his recent success in coaching which was the key factor in Cranbrook’s decision to award him the role of coaching our swimming students,” the school said.

“His employment elsewhere and coaching success came after the events in question”.

The school said it had not received any complaints about the hiring of Monk since announcing the news to parents this morning, but had “received only positive feedback” regarding the appointment.

“All offers of employment at Cranbrook School are determined on a combination of experience, qualification and character, with rigorous background and referee checks done to ensure that prospective staff display values which are in keeping with the ethos of our School and provide a positive example to our students,” the statement said.

Cranbrook principal Nicholas Sampson.

“Mr Monk has coached athletes to the Australian National Age Championships, including national Open Water medalists. He was awarded the Junior Coach of the Year, Open Water Coach of the Year, Multi-disability Coach of the Year and Up-and-Coming Senior Coach of the Year at the Victorian Swimming Coaching Awards.”

Monk will assist in the development of the school’s K-12 swimming program when he returns from the junior world swimming championships in Korea to start his new role on September 9

“We are confident that in appointing Mr Monk to this role that he will play a vital role within the Swimming program here at Cranbrook and as part of the Cranbrook Sport team. He brings with him exceptional attention to detail in technical knowledge and skill and will strive to ensure a balanced approach for athletes which promotes the pursuit of excellence in their sporting, cultural, personal and academic pursuits,” the statement said.