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Rigged Justice: How the College Admissions Scandal Ruined an Innocent Man’s Life
The former Stanford University sailing coach sentenced in the Varsity Blues college admissions scandal tells the riveting true story of how he was drawn unwittingly into a web of deceit in this eye-opening memoir that offers a damning portrait of modern college administration and the ways in which justice and fairness do not always intersect.
For eleven years, John Vandemoer ran the prestigious Stanford University sailing program in which he coached Olympians and All-Americans. Though the hours were long and the program struggled for funding, sailing gave Vandemoer’s life shape and meaning.
But early one morning, everything came crashing down when Vandemoer, still in his pajamas, opened the door to find FBI and IRS agents on his doorstep. He quickly learned that a recruiter named Rick Singer had used him as a stooge in a sophisticated scheme designed to take advantage of college coaches and play to the endless appetite for university fundraising—and wealthy parents looking for an edge for their college-bound children.
Vandemoer was summarily fired, kicked out of campus housing, his children booted from campus daycare. The next year of his life was a Kafkaesque hellscape, and though he was an innocent man who never received a dime was the first person to be convicted in what became known as the Varsity Blues scandal.
A true story that reads like a suspense novel, Rigged Justice lays bare how a sophisticated scheme could take advantage of college coaches and university money—and how one family became collateral damage in a large government investigation that dominated national headlines.
For eleven years, John Vandemoer ran the prestigious Stanford University sailing program in which he coached Olympians and All-Americans. Though the hours were long and the program struggled for funding, sailing gave Vandemoer’s life shape and meaning.
But early one morning, everything came crashing down when Vandemoer, still in his pajamas, opened the door to find FBI and IRS agents on his doorstep. He quickly learned that a recruiter named Rick Singer had used him as a stooge in a sophisticated scheme designed to take advantage of college coaches and play to the endless appetite for university fundraising—and wealthy parents looking for an edge for their college-bound children.
Vandemoer was summarily fired, kicked out of campus housing, his children booted from campus daycare. The next year of his life was a Kafkaesque hellscape, and though he was an innocent man who never received a dime was the first person to be convicted in what became known as the Varsity Blues scandal.
A true story that reads like a suspense novel, Rigged Justice lays bare how a sophisticated scheme could take advantage of college coaches and university money—and how one family became collateral damage in a large government investigation that dominated national headlines.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published September 28, 2021
19 people are currently reading
145 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
October 28, 2021
This is an honest, heartbreaking account by John Vandemoer, of his role in the college admissions scandal. Mr. Vandemoer is to be commended for his authentic voice. Without self pity Vandermoer looks back on his own life and owns his own naivete. He obviously loves sailing and loved coaching. Yet being criticized by some sailors ( in end-of-year evaluations) on the Stanford sailing team clearly contributed to some insecurity which was compounded by an Athletic Director who didn’t appear to respect him, or even remember his name. Feeling pressure to fundraise, led to meeting Rick Singer who was a master spinner, deceiving many more sophisticated high rollers than John. Of course we can all say “ he should have known better” but that is what a mistake is. A mistake. And there have been lessons learned. Hopefully he can move on with his life. It sounds like he has a wonderful family and many friends.
The role of “big donors” in gaining a student’s acceptance at certain colleges and universities has finally come under scrutiny with this FBI investigation., However, the role of the IRS and the FBI agents, which was uncomfortable to read, also warrants scrutiny.
This is a must-read for anyone contemplating a career in coaching.
The role of “big donors” in gaining a student’s acceptance at certain colleges and universities has finally come under scrutiny with this FBI investigation., However, the role of the IRS and the FBI agents, which was uncomfortable to read, also warrants scrutiny.
This is a must-read for anyone contemplating a career in coaching.
September 27, 2021
Rigged Justice by John Vandemoer is a very interesting account of the life of a Stanford sailing coach caught in the middle of the Varsity Blues college scandal. The book takes you through the first visit with the FBI and his subsequent guilty plea. This reads like a frightening suspense novel. Throughout reading this book I would have trusted everyone involved and found myself in a similar situation. Vandemoer lost his house, job and spent time on house arrest. Much of the evidence and the testimony of Rick Singer paint a picture of questionable tactics and many lives disrupted.
March 23, 2022
While many know about the Varsity Blues college admission scandal thanks to celebrities who participated like Felicity Huffman and Lori Laughlin, there were other innocent people whose lives were shattered because of the scandal. One of these people was former Stanford sailing coach John Vandemoer and he tells his story of how he was caught up in this controversy.
There are a few sections in the book where Vandemoer talks about the sport of sailing – these include how he got interested in the sport, his coaching methods, the awards won while he was at Stanford and some of his coaching techniques. However, those are few and far between his account of his legal troubles that all started with a phone call.
That call, from a man named Rick Singer, was one in which a student whose parents would make a substantial contribution to the sailing program should Vandemoer put in a good word for the student at Stanford and get her on the team. Not paying close attention to what Singer was saying, Vandemoer agreed to do so as fundraising was always one of the more challenging duties he faced in his job. This led to other calls from Singer for other “recruits” and again, without fully listening and in some cases, getting poor reception, Vandemoer agreed to having more funds coming into the program in exchange for providing priority for these students.
What wasn’t known was that Singer was working as an informant for the FBI and when agents from the FBI and IRS came to Vandemoer’s house one morning, he let them in and started answering their questions. This is how the book starts and from there, it reads like an exciting legal thriller – except it wasn’t really “thrilling” for Vandemoer as he was eventually charged with fraudulent activities. He was able to obtain good legal counsel thanks to his parents. He was one of the first people who pleaded guilty in the Varsity Blues scandal and his punishment was much lighter than what prosecutors were hoping to get.
That doesn’t wash away the upheaval done to his life as he lost his coaching job and the hosing and medical insurance that came with it, Stanford wanted absolutely nothing to do with him, his family life was in turmoil and he was hounded by the media. The book is heart-wrenching and maddening at the same time when one reads about the means to which an innocent man who thought he was simply raising money for his program ended up getting ensnared into one of the biggest scandals in recent years. It’s a book that is a quick read that one will have a hard time putting down. Not to mention one doesn’t have to be into sailing to want to read this one.
I wish to thank Harper One for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
There are a few sections in the book where Vandemoer talks about the sport of sailing – these include how he got interested in the sport, his coaching methods, the awards won while he was at Stanford and some of his coaching techniques. However, those are few and far between his account of his legal troubles that all started with a phone call.
That call, from a man named Rick Singer, was one in which a student whose parents would make a substantial contribution to the sailing program should Vandemoer put in a good word for the student at Stanford and get her on the team. Not paying close attention to what Singer was saying, Vandemoer agreed to do so as fundraising was always one of the more challenging duties he faced in his job. This led to other calls from Singer for other “recruits” and again, without fully listening and in some cases, getting poor reception, Vandemoer agreed to having more funds coming into the program in exchange for providing priority for these students.
What wasn’t known was that Singer was working as an informant for the FBI and when agents from the FBI and IRS came to Vandemoer’s house one morning, he let them in and started answering their questions. This is how the book starts and from there, it reads like an exciting legal thriller – except it wasn’t really “thrilling” for Vandemoer as he was eventually charged with fraudulent activities. He was able to obtain good legal counsel thanks to his parents. He was one of the first people who pleaded guilty in the Varsity Blues scandal and his punishment was much lighter than what prosecutors were hoping to get.
That doesn’t wash away the upheaval done to his life as he lost his coaching job and the hosing and medical insurance that came with it, Stanford wanted absolutely nothing to do with him, his family life was in turmoil and he was hounded by the media. The book is heart-wrenching and maddening at the same time when one reads about the means to which an innocent man who thought he was simply raising money for his program ended up getting ensnared into one of the biggest scandals in recent years. It’s a book that is a quick read that one will have a hard time putting down. Not to mention one doesn’t have to be into sailing to want to read this one.
I wish to thank Harper One for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
October 1, 2021
An engaging tale of an innocent man caught in an academic admissions scandal. Duped by a con man, he was accused of taking bribes to get students admitted into Stanford whether they sailed for the school's team or not.
The book revolves around varsity sailing clubs, unsolicited donations, and then the trial and subsequent sentencing.
You'll come to realize that sometimes a person's career takes a serious jog through no faults of their own.
It's a cautionary tale of what Vandemoer did and didn't do, how he got caught up in a crime he had no idea about, and that while innocent, he paid the price of losing his job and pride.
Thanks to the BookLoft of German Village (Columbus, OH) http://www.bookloft.com for an ARC to read and review.
The book revolves around varsity sailing clubs, unsolicited donations, and then the trial and subsequent sentencing.
You'll come to realize that sometimes a person's career takes a serious jog through no faults of their own.
It's a cautionary tale of what Vandemoer did and didn't do, how he got caught up in a crime he had no idea about, and that while innocent, he paid the price of losing his job and pride.
Thanks to the BookLoft of German Village (Columbus, OH) http://www.bookloft.com for an ARC to read and review.
Read
October 4, 2021Must read for anyone involved in fundraising and athletics.
Great read about an important story. John lays it.all out in this riveting account of the Varsity Blues scandal. Thanks for.bringing it to.light.
Great read about an important story. John lays it.all out in this riveting account of the Varsity Blues scandal. Thanks for.bringing it to.light.
November 7, 2021
This is a page turner.
I learned a lot about the Varsity Blues Admission Scandal.
Very interesting that the one person John Vandemoer, who did not receive any money for himself, who did not even know he was committing a crime, lost everything, his job, his house, his reputation yet the man who orchestrated the crimes, Rick Singer, is still free as a bird. I don’t know when he will be sentenced but because he admitted the crime, and turned state’s evidence he won’t be sentenced until all the people who are charged have been convicted.
How can this be? Does he have time to put all his money in an off shore account?
I have a very different opinion about this case since I read this book. I’m not happy about the “justice “ system in our country. I think the people who gave Rick Singer the money for their children to be admitted to a college were wrong, especially the ones who paid for their children to have someone else take the exam for them. But colleges have been taking endowments for forever, right? When does that stop?
I learned a lot about the Varsity Blues Admission Scandal.
Very interesting that the one person John Vandemoer, who did not receive any money for himself, who did not even know he was committing a crime, lost everything, his job, his house, his reputation yet the man who orchestrated the crimes, Rick Singer, is still free as a bird. I don’t know when he will be sentenced but because he admitted the crime, and turned state’s evidence he won’t be sentenced until all the people who are charged have been convicted.
How can this be? Does he have time to put all his money in an off shore account?
I have a very different opinion about this case since I read this book. I’m not happy about the “justice “ system in our country. I think the people who gave Rick Singer the money for their children to be admitted to a college were wrong, especially the ones who paid for their children to have someone else take the exam for them. But colleges have been taking endowments for forever, right? When does that stop?
October 17, 2021
Read This!!
This well written book took me on an emotional roller coaster and gave me insight into the admissions scandal. The author is a great guy. Everyone should read this eye-opening story.
This well written book took me on an emotional roller coaster and gave me insight into the admissions scandal. The author is a great guy. Everyone should read this eye-opening story.
February 26, 2022
This was a very well-written account by the Stanford sailing coach who was involved in the recent college admissions scandal. He was the only defendant who gained nothing personally, who didn’t recommend anyone, who mistakenly thought Stanford reviewed large donors. He was prosecuted by the FBI and given the choice of pleading guilty in a RICO case and getting a relatively short jail sentence or pleading not guilty and spending $1-2 million on his defense — a decision he had to make within the week. He took the plea, got fired, lost his health insurance and housing, his sterling reputation.
This made me see the scandal in a different light. Who, I wonder, oversees the FBI and its enormous power to ruin lives. This was so unfair. The takeaway: don’t talk to the FBI without a lawyer, especially if you are innocent. You have the right to this. And after you read his story, you will see why.
This made me see the scandal in a different light. Who, I wonder, oversees the FBI and its enormous power to ruin lives. This was so unfair. The takeaway: don’t talk to the FBI without a lawyer, especially if you are innocent. You have the right to this. And after you read his story, you will see why.
April 2, 2022
John Vandemoer loved his job. He knew how lucky he was and he wanted to help his university. Is when an unknown recruiter named Rick Singer showed up, he told his chain of command about the donations. He took the money directly to Stanford. He didn’t recruit anyone from Rick Singer for the sailing team.
After reading this book, I realized Rick Singer operated like Bernie Madoff. He didn’t take their money; he took their innocence and ruined their lives. From what I can tell, he chose his victims.
Vandermoer never came looking. He might have had questions, but he relied on references from his fellow coaches. He did not see the money as a quid pro quo. After all, it wasn’t unusual for major donors to show up just because they supported the team’s mission.
From what I understand, Stanford didn’t recruit specific students for the sailing team. They had to get accepted at Stanford and then apply. They didn’t get scholarships. So he didn’t meet with them ahead of time, the way a basketball coach or football coach does.
What strikes me in this book is a pattern of federal prosecution that appears over and over again. Read Wajahat Ali’s book, Go Back Where You Came From. The FBI identifies a target. They show up early in the morning or late at night, sometimes with drawn guns, even when they’re dealing with a dazed, confused white collar criminal. Lawyers tell the defendants, “Don’t bother going to trial. The government wins 98% of its cases.”
Also read the book, 3 Felonies a Day. That book (unfortunately out of print) should be required reading in high school and college classes. The government targets someone . They make a case. They go all out for prosecution. They issue press releases before the trial, stigmatizing the target forever. They seek long prison sentences for people who had no idea they were breaking the law - and who in some cases, were pulled along by someone like Rick Singer. They rely on testimony of informants, who often testify as part of a plea to avoid more prison time.
The goal is to turn as many people as possible into criminals and make them “pay” or get “rehabilitated” in prison.
The targets are scarred for life, marked as felons. Ironically, those who really took money are unable to make restitution because they have a criminal record, they lose time fighting the system and they have huge legal fees.
It’s not clear how any of this benefits the taxpayer. We pay for courts, judges parole officers and yes, prisons.
Everyone who reads this book and writes a review should also write to their federal legislators. Ask why we’re subsidizing this activity. People are starving. People are dying for lack of medical care. Students have huge college loans. And the government spends millions on FBI raids, parole officers, prisons…not to mention the loss to society of good people who are marked with the scarlet “F” for felon.
It could happen to anyone.
After reading this book, I realized Rick Singer operated like Bernie Madoff. He didn’t take their money; he took their innocence and ruined their lives. From what I can tell, he chose his victims.
Vandermoer never came looking. He might have had questions, but he relied on references from his fellow coaches. He did not see the money as a quid pro quo. After all, it wasn’t unusual for major donors to show up just because they supported the team’s mission.
From what I understand, Stanford didn’t recruit specific students for the sailing team. They had to get accepted at Stanford and then apply. They didn’t get scholarships. So he didn’t meet with them ahead of time, the way a basketball coach or football coach does.
What strikes me in this book is a pattern of federal prosecution that appears over and over again. Read Wajahat Ali’s book, Go Back Where You Came From. The FBI identifies a target. They show up early in the morning or late at night, sometimes with drawn guns, even when they’re dealing with a dazed, confused white collar criminal. Lawyers tell the defendants, “Don’t bother going to trial. The government wins 98% of its cases.”
Also read the book, 3 Felonies a Day. That book (unfortunately out of print) should be required reading in high school and college classes. The government targets someone . They make a case. They go all out for prosecution. They issue press releases before the trial, stigmatizing the target forever. They seek long prison sentences for people who had no idea they were breaking the law - and who in some cases, were pulled along by someone like Rick Singer. They rely on testimony of informants, who often testify as part of a plea to avoid more prison time.
The goal is to turn as many people as possible into criminals and make them “pay” or get “rehabilitated” in prison.
The targets are scarred for life, marked as felons. Ironically, those who really took money are unable to make restitution because they have a criminal record, they lose time fighting the system and they have huge legal fees.
It’s not clear how any of this benefits the taxpayer. We pay for courts, judges parole officers and yes, prisons.
Everyone who reads this book and writes a review should also write to their federal legislators. Ask why we’re subsidizing this activity. People are starving. People are dying for lack of medical care. Students have huge college loans. And the government spends millions on FBI raids, parole officers, prisons…not to mention the loss to society of good people who are marked with the scarlet “F” for felon.
It could happen to anyone.
December 5, 2021
A quick and engrossing read that, once more, shows what everyone should know by now: The FBI and Department of Justice are rotten root to stem and should be razed. There are no good apples, no men of “unimpeachable integrity.” The best are functionaries and PR whores. The worst are crooks, morally vacuous social climbers who use the full force and weight of the government for social climbing, innocents be damned.
This is a look inside Operation Varsity Blues. Who comes up with these names, by the way? The feds took the biggest crook involved, flipped him, and preened like barnyard peacocks when the nailed parents for paying to get their kids into good schools. It should be noted that none of the kids flunked out. Getting in, it turns out, is its own reward.
Vandermoer was naive beyond belief. But the feds badgered their scoundrel of a witness to lie to set him up, and then threatened to lump him in with real crooks in a RICO indictment if he didn’t plead guilty, in other words, break him through the process, justice, schmustice, all so they could include Stanford in the list of schools involved.
If you’re ever called to be on a federal jury, acquit. Assume the fed prosecutor is corrupt and the agents are lying. That’s probably right. And there’s no other way. .
This is a look inside Operation Varsity Blues. Who comes up with these names, by the way? The feds took the biggest crook involved, flipped him, and preened like barnyard peacocks when the nailed parents for paying to get their kids into good schools. It should be noted that none of the kids flunked out. Getting in, it turns out, is its own reward.
Vandermoer was naive beyond belief. But the feds badgered their scoundrel of a witness to lie to set him up, and then threatened to lump him in with real crooks in a RICO indictment if he didn’t plead guilty, in other words, break him through the process, justice, schmustice, all so they could include Stanford in the list of schools involved.
If you’re ever called to be on a federal jury, acquit. Assume the fed prosecutor is corrupt and the agents are lying. That’s probably right. And there’s no other way. .
December 15, 2022
Worth reading.
My takeaways as it relates to Stanford and Coach Vandemoer. Coach John was naive and didn't ask enough questions, but he tells an honest story and owns up. Respect. Stanford Athletic Director Bernard Muir on the other hand did not own up, and threw Coach Vandemoer under the bus. Very ugly university and sports business with Bernard Muir at the center. Never answer the door when the FBI comes knocking. The FBI players were on a mission, and it wasn't to find the facts or the truth, it was to find a patsy. And they found John. Very sorry this happened to Coach Vandemoer at the hands of Rick Singer a con man.
My takeaways as it relates to Stanford and Coach Vandemoer. Coach John was naive and didn't ask enough questions, but he tells an honest story and owns up. Respect. Stanford Athletic Director Bernard Muir on the other hand did not own up, and threw Coach Vandemoer under the bus. Very ugly university and sports business with Bernard Muir at the center. Never answer the door when the FBI comes knocking. The FBI players were on a mission, and it wasn't to find the facts or the truth, it was to find a patsy. And they found John. Very sorry this happened to Coach Vandemoer at the hands of Rick Singer a con man.
October 25, 2021
Rigged Justice is a true page-turner that gives the reader a window into the college admissions process, the federal justice system, and the painful lived experience about how a man's life (and that of his family) was thoroughly upended.
November 13, 2021
Shocking read. Hopefully, the eyes of righteousness look down on collegiate athletics and admissions. No one must go through what John Vandemoer went though. Totally disgusting. A black mark on Americanism and the collegiate infrastructure.
December 1, 2021
Wowza. Gut wrenching and heart rending. Not the usual Varsity Blues story. Mr Vandemoer was scapegoated and failed by the justice system. As well as by Stanford. Disturbing on many levels. A well written and highly personal account.
January 10, 2023
I enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would. The specifics about sailing were interesting as well as the “true confessions” of the coach. I am not sure I believe him totally but his story is plausible.
December 3, 2021
A look into how colleges handle admissions...donations/development!
January 2, 2022
4.5 starts. I enjoyed hearing his side of the story!
February 23, 2022
Excellent read for anyone involved in collegiate athletics or academics as well as fundraising.
March 1, 2022
Interesting to read as a fundraiser. Good lessons to learn.
June 21, 2024
He was the Stanford sailing coach. Stanford threw him under the bus.
June 14, 2025
Innocence is irrelevant
Imbecile, sociopath FBI agents jump to conclusions, and destroy a noble career, and much more. Our justice system is indeed rigged.
Imbecile, sociopath FBI agents jump to conclusions, and destroy a noble career, and much more. Our justice system is indeed rigged.
August 6, 2025
Such an interesting book about Operations Varsity Blues, and from such an honest perspective. The coach did what a lot of people in that situation would’ve done.
April 2, 2022
I usually am skeptical of the claims that someone is completely and utterly innocent. However, this guy does seem pretty naive in many ways. I also see that he was caught up in a high pressure situation and did not think through the implications of taking large donations and students who weren’t sailors.
To me this book is one more indictment of athletics in higher education and the various ways ethics are strained to accommodate and advance them. I suspect the reason coaches get caught is because this is business as usual and thus they don’t see it as wrong.
To me this book is one more indictment of athletics in higher education and the various ways ethics are strained to accommodate and advance them. I suspect the reason coaches get caught is because this is business as usual and thus they don’t see it as wrong.
July 13, 2022
A great book! Must read if you are sailor, a part of the sailing community, or planning to be a college athlete. It is a heartbreaking story but with an ultimately positive message. As a college sailor, I loved this book!!
December 10, 2021
It is just unfortunate that John Vandemoer got caught up in this college admission scandal. However diligent he would've acted with the donations and his contacts with Rick Singer, I feel that without the proper support from his employer, and the insistent pursue of the authority, he still wouldn't have gotten away with this.
As a fellow sailor, I find his background story of how he became a sailor and then eventually progressed to being a college coach interesting.
As a fellow sailor, I find his background story of how he became a sailor and then eventually progressed to being a college coach interesting.
December 30, 2025
Read this after watching the Netflix documentary "Operation Varsity Blues." Excellent memoir that gives the reader insight into Vandemoer's experience and more broadly college admissions, sports recruiting, and the delicate nature of donor relations.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews