Suzanne Yoculan
Encyclopedia
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.
Yoculan graduated from Penn State University in 1975 with a degree in therapeutic recreation with a dance emphasis. 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. 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.
Since 2000, she has been in a long-term relationship with UGA Board of Regent member Don Leebern, even though Leebern is still married to another woman. 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. 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.
Artistic gymnastics
Artistic gymnastics is a discipline of gymnastics where gymnasts perform short routines on different apparatus, with less time for vaulting . The sport is governed by the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique , which designs the Code of Points and regulates all aspects of international elite...
program at the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
in Athens, Georgia
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
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.
Yoculan graduated from Penn State University in 1975 with a degree in therapeutic recreation with a dance emphasis. She was named the head women's gymnastics coach at the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
on August 24, 1983, and coached her first meet against the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
Crimson Tide on December 3, 1983. 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
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
Championships and 10 NCAA championships, including a run of 5 consecutive national championships during her final 5 seasons.
Since 2000, she has been in a long-term relationship with UGA Board of Regent member Don Leebern, even though Leebern is still married to another woman. 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. 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.
Career Review and Honors
- 10 NCAA Women's Gymnastics championshipsNCAA Women's Gymnastics championshipThe NCAA introduced Women's Gymnastics as a championship sport in 1982. Since then, only four universities have claimed the overall Division I championship; Division II competition was discontinued in 1987. During the early years of competition, the University of Utah under the leadership of head...
- 1987, '89, '93, '98, '99, '05, '06, '07, '08, '09 - 16 Southeastern ConferenceSoutheastern ConferenceThe Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
Championships - 1986, '87, '91, '92, '93, '94, '96, '97, '98, '99, 2001, '02, '04, '05, '06, '08 - 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
- NCAA Women's Gymnastics Coach of the Year - 1987, '93, '98, 2006, '08
- Southeastern Conference Women's Gymnastics Coach of the Year - 1986, '87, '99, 2001, '02, '04, '08, '09
- 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
- Suzanne also produced 306 all Americans