Suzanne Yoculan

Suzanne Yoculan
Sport(s) Women's gymnastics
Biographical details
Born Erie, Pennsylvania, United States
Alma mater Penn State
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1983-2009 University of Georgia
Head coaching record
Overall 831-117-7[1]
Accomplishments and honors
Championships

10 NCAA Women's Gymnastics championships
(1987, 1989, 1993, 1998, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009)
16 SEC Titles
(1986, 1987 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008)
21 NCAA Regional Titles
(1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009)
4 Undefeated Seasons
(1993, 1998, 1999, 2006)

Coached 31 NCAA Individual champions
Awards
8 Time SEC Women's Gymnastics Coach of the Year (1986, 1987, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2009)
5 Time NCAA Coach of the Year (1987, 1993, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2009)

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

References

  1. ↑ "Super Six Notes". NCAA. Retrieved 2010-10-26.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Georgia Biographies: Suzanne Yoculan". GeorgiaDogs.com. University of Georgia Athletics Association. Retrieved 2007-04-15.
  3. 1 2 "Yoculan: book is beating a dead horse". The Red and Black. Retrieved 2010-10-26.
  4. ↑ "Members of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia". University System of Georgia. Retrieved 2010-10-26.
  5. ↑ "Georgia reports six NCAA secondary violations". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved 2010-10-26.
  6. ↑ "National Collegiate Women's Gymnastics". NCAA. Retrieved 2010-10-26.
  7. ↑ "SEC Gymnastics History and Records". Southeastern Conference. Archived from the original on 2007-10-12. Retrieved 2010-10-26.
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