The recent release of long-time Iowa State women’s swimming coach Ramsey Van Horn has been raising questions throughout the university community.

Last month, it was announced that Van Horn, who has been coaching women swimmers for 17 years, would not have his contract renewed for the 1997-1998 season.

At the time, ISU Athletic Director Gene Smith, while not giving a reason for the release, said the department wanted “to seek a new direction for our women’s swim program.”

Despite that explanation, ISU faculty and students still had questions about the firing.

“It’s a personnel issue,” Smith said Wednesday, “and I don’t think it’s appropriate to discuss those issues publicly.”

Van Horn himself was also not able to give any reasons for his release. “I’m not sure why I was let go,” he said. However, Van Horn added that he felt no hard feelings toward the university.

ISU Vice President for External Affairs Murray Blackwelder was also silent about the release of Van Horn. “It’s tough to comment on personnel issues,” he said, because of the impending legal problems which could result.

However, Blackwelder said the parting was a friendly one. “I’ve met with the swim coach, and he understands where we are. We reached a decision to terminate, and everybody is happy.”

Smith said a new coach has already been hired. Duane Sorenson, formerly of the University of Minnesota, has been named as Van Horn’s replacement.

“He’s an outstanding coach,” Smith said.

Van Horn, who had been coaching at ISU since the 1979-1980 season, said Iowa State was his last coaching job. While he didn’t divulge any future plans, he said one thing was for sure: “I plan to spend more time with my family.”