Suzanne Yoculan

Suzanne Paige Yoculan was the head coach of the women's gymnastics program at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia from 1983 to 2009. During her tenure, she built the Georgia gymnastics program into a national powerhouse and is one of the most decorated coaches in the history of collegiate gymnastics.

Early life and education

Yoculan graduated from Penn State University in 1975 with a degree in therapeutic recreation with a dance emphasis.

Coaching career

She was named the head women's gymnastics coach at the University of Georgia on August 24, 1983, and coached her first meet against the University of Alabama Crimson Tide on December 3, 1983.^[2] During her 26 years at the helm, Georgia's gymnastics team, the "Gym Dogs," posted a meet record of 831-117-7 (.870 winning percentage). Under Yoculan, the Gym Dogs won 16 Southeastern Conference Championships and 10 NCAA championships, including a run of 5 consecutive national championships during her final 5 seasons.^[2]

Controversies

Since 2000, she has been in a relationship with and in 2009 married in Italy to Georgia Board of Regents member Don Leebern, even though Leebern is still married to another woman.^[3] This relationship has been controversial for several reasons, including the fact that Leeburn is one of the longest-serving members of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia.^[3][4]

In addition, the UGA Athletic Department self-reported a Level I secondary NCAA rules violation in December, 2004, regarding an all-expenses paid trip to New York City for Yoculan and 6 seniors from the Gymnastics team. On the trip, all expenses were paid by Leebern and the party flew aboard Leebern's privately owned airplane. In response, the SEC stripped the program of one scholarship for one year; and Yoculan received a letter of reprimand, was forbidden from recruiting off campus for one year, and was required to attend a regional NCAA rules seminar.^[5]

Career review and honors

• 10 NCAA Women's Gymnastics championships – 1987, '89, '93, '98, '99, '05, '06, '07, '08, '09 ^[6]
• 16 Southeastern Conference Championships – 1986, '87, '91, '92, '93, '94, '96, '97, '98, '99, 2001, '02, '04, '05, '06, '08^[2]
• 21 NCAA Regional Titles – 1986, '88, '89, '90, '91, '92, '93, '94, '95, '96, '98, '99, 2000, '01, '02, '03, '04, '06, '07, '08, '09^[2]
• NCAA Women's Gymnastics Coach of the Year – 1987, '93, '98, 2006, '08^[2]
• Southeastern Conference Women's Gymnastics Coach of the Year – 1986, '87, '99, 2001, '02, '04, '08, '09^[2][7]
• Her teams finished in the Top 3 nationally 19 out of her final 21 years, in addition to qualifying for the "Super Six" (final six NCAA teams) every year since the format was introduced in 1993. Her teams also never missed participating in the NCAA Women's Gymnastics competition.
• 4 Undefeated Seasons- '93, '98, '99, '06^[2]
• Suzanne also produced 306 all Americans

References