Utah coach Marsden to retire after 40 years

SALT LAKE CITY -- Greg Marsden, who led Utah gymnastics to unprecedented national success on the competitive floor and in the stands, has announced his retirement after 40 seasons as the school's head coach. Last Saturday, Utah placed second at the 2015 NCAA Championships, just five one hundredths of a point out of first place.

Megan Marsden, Utah's six-year co-head coach and an assistant for the previous 25 years, will continue in her current role. Tom Farden, Utah's assistant coach for the past five years and the former head coach at Southeast Missouri State, has been elevated to co-head coach.

A press conference announcing Greg Marsden's retirement and introducing Megan Marsden and Farden as Utah's co-head coaches will be held Tuesday in the Huntsman Center.

"I told Chris Hill, Megan and Tom Farden before the season began of my plans to retire at the end of the season," said Greg Marsden.

"I asked them not to say anything because this program is not about me, it's about our incredible student-athletes, and I wanted all the attention focused on them. We've actually been preparing for this transition for the past few years and I feel really secure in leaving this program, which has been my life for 40 years, in the hands of Megan and Tom. There is no one reason I chose to leave now.

"It just felt right. I still love coming to the gym every day and working with these elite student-athletes, coaches and staff, but I feel the other elements of the job are best suited for someone younger. I have been incredibly fortunate to spend my entire career here at Utah and to receive support unprecedented anywhere in the country from our administration and our amazing fans. I am especially grateful to Megan, my wife and partner, and to Chris Hill, my friend and mentor."

Marsden retires as the winningest coach in college gymnastics history with a 1,048-208-8 record and his 10 national championships is tied for the most by any women's gymnastics team. Hired in the 1975-76 season as a graduate assistant, Marsden took his very first team to the AIAW National Championship, where Utah finished 10th.

He has never missed a national championship, with Utah qualifying for an unprecedented 40 consecutive years, including all 34 NCAA Championships (the only program to do so). The Utes have advanced into the Super Six 19 times in the 23 years under the format, including this season's runner-up finish.