USRowing has revoked the membership rights of 57-year-old rowing coach Guy Monseair following his arrest in New York City on child rape and indecent assault charges stemming from his past coaching tenure on Cape Cod.
Police Arrest Monseair in the Bronx
Law enforcement located him on City Island in the Bronx, where he was leading City Island Rowing, an all-girls competitive youth rowing team, according to Bostonglobe.
According to the Barnstable Police Department, the charges against Monseair comprise four counts of aggravated statutory rape of a child alongside one count of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, according to CBS News. Investigators on Cape Cod began probing the allegations last month after receiving reports regarding his time coaching at several regional rowing organizations.
Galibois.
Police said a Barnstable police detective applied for and was granted an arrest warrant for Monseair through Barnstable District Court on a Wednesday, and he was taken into custody in the Bronx the following day. Before coaching professionally in the United States, Monseair owned art galleries in Chatham and Harwich and got his start in coaching in Zimbabwe, later relocating to the United States to coach full time.
Investigators Detail Abuse Charges
Investigators noted that every reported incident occurred between 2008 and 2011 while Monseair served as a rowing coach across multiple Cape clubs. According to the Boston Globe, the charges against Monseair stem from his time coaching on the Cape.
People familiar with his past on the Cape described red flags from his years coaching high school athletes. Kenney stated she wasn’t surprised at all
when she heard about the charges against him.
He was being so giving and nice, his charisma was almost paralyzing,
Meaghann Kenney, who coached alongside him at Cape Cod Rowing in Centerville
But [he was] such a snake charmer that nine very affluent, responsible families sent their kids with him.
Meaghann Kenney, who coached alongside him at Cape Cod Rowing in Centerville
Reflecting on the arrest, Kenney added that he left their club under very bad circumstances. Another former athlete who trained under him on the Cape back in 2007 similarly told CBS News that the allegations are horribly disturbing and that she hated the fact that she was not surprised. She stated that women he once coached on the Cape say he should never be allowed to coach again, expressing concern that he was still around children.
During a 2024 interview with Business Matters,
a British publication, Monseair explained that he pursued a coaching career because it provided a chance to create a genuinely positive impact on the lives of young people. An online profile states that he led City Island Rowing, and an undated profile page lists him as head coach and executive director, noting his coaching philosophy emphasizes athletic and personal growth, resilience, teamwork, and discipline under his leadership.
Governing Bodies Respond to Arrest
In response to the arrest, USRowing issued a statement saying a spokesperson for the organization revoked Monseair’s membership rights as soon as they learned about the allegations, barring him from participating in any competitions and activities under its jurisdiction. The governing body also reported the matter to the Center for SafeSport while encouraging other individuals affected by abuse to share information via the web or through the 833-5US-SAFE (833-587-7233) telephone line.
Cape Cod Rowing issued a statement addressing his historical ties to the club, noting they reached out and stated they understand Monseair was affiliated with the club in the past but current members do not know when he coached there or the circumstances of his tenure, adding that they have not had a youth program in over 12 years.
While we understand that this individual was affiliated with the organization at some point, the current organization and its membership do not have information regarding the timeframe of his involvement or the circumstances of his coaching tenure… Our thoughts are with anyone affected by this situation.
Cape Cod Rowing
The NYPD stated that he started the City Island Rowing group between 2012 and 2014, though officials could not say if he was still involved in the organization, and noted there have not been any allegations against Monseair from his time in New York. The organization did not immediately respond to several messages seeking comment.
Authorities emphasized that the investigation remains active and ongoing, urging anyone with related information or who is affected to come forward and reach out to police.
Support services for victims of sexual assault can be accessed via the National Sexual Violence Resources Center alongside the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline (800-656-4673), in addition to the various survivor support programs provided across Massachusetts.