UPDATED: UGA gymnastics coach Jay Clark resigns after third year

Following is the (uncut) news story I filed for the newspaper on the resignation of gymnastics coach Jay Clark. You should note the comments from Gym Dogs coaching legend Suzanne Yoculan, who said “anything could happen” when asked if she’d consider coming back from retirement. You should also note that McGarity said “I don’t think so” when asked if they’d consider her a candidate. Below the story is the actual news release cirulated by UGA at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, and then the comments I got from Clark and McGarity. . . .

ATHENS – Georgia Athletic Director Greg McGarity has often said that he judges the Bulldogs’ coaches on SEC championships and NCAA postseason performances. Georgia gymnastics coach Jay Clark on Friday felt the wrath of that philosophy as he resigned just three years after succeeding legendary coach Suzanne Yoculan.

Clark met with Athletic Director Greg McGarity Friday afternoon and tendered his resignation in person at some point during that meeting. Clark, who was Yoculan’s top assistant for 17 years before she retired, has two years remaining on his contract.

Asked if he had an opportunity to return for another season, Clark said: “I resigned. At this point I don’t have a lot to say beyond that.”

McGarity was equally mum when reached by telephone shortly after the news release was sent out at

“I can’t really say anything else,” said McGarity, who has been on the job for 18 months. “I’ll let the release stand for itself.

McGarity did say the search for Clark’s successor “begins immediately. We’re going over names and things of that nature as we speak.”

Clark was working for Yoculan while the Bulldogs won most of their 10 national championships, including five straight before Yoculan retired following the 2009 season. Under Clark, the Gym Dogs had three third-place finishes in the SEC, missed the NCAA Championships one year and finished ninth and 11th in the other two.

“We’re expected to win championships and we wanted to,” Clark said. “I’m sure the program will do well. I want every recruit that’s on board now to come here and I think every elite prospect in the country should want to come here.”

Yoculan was not happy to hear the news. “Nothing in athletics surprises me,” she said via text message.

Asked if she’d consider coming out of retirement, she replied: “Anything can happen.”

Unless, Yoculan comes back, Georgia will have to completely retool its gymnastics staff. Clark’s assistants include his wife, Julie Ballard Clark, and longtime Yoculan aide Doug McAvinn.

Nevertheless, Clark said he harbors no ill will toward his alma mater.

“I’ve been here a long time and I love the University with all my heart,” Clark said. “Since I graduated it’s the only place I’ve worked. We’ve been part of some great things since we’ve been here and I’m honored to be a part of it. I’ll always be a Dawg, I’ve always loved this place and I always will.”

UGA’S OFFICIAL RELEASE:

University of Georgia head gymnastics coach Jay Clark has resigned his position effective immediately according to an announcement Friday by UGA Director of Athletics Greg McGarity.

Clark took over the program three years ago after serving 17 years as an assistant on the Gym Dogs’ staff including five as associate head coach.

“I have accepted Jay’s resignation and want to express our appreciation to him for his many significant contributions to our program over a long period of time,” said McGarity. “Our gymnastics program has always been a source of pride for the Athletic Association and Jay has conducted the program in an admirable manner during his years of service to UGA. We certainly wish him the very best in his future endeavors. We’ll move as quickly as possible to begin the process of finding the best possible head coach to lead our program.”

“It’s been an honor and privilege to be at the University of Georgia,” said Clark, who first joined the staff in 1990. “I love the University of Georgia and treasure my time here.”

Clark’s teams finished third at the SEC Championships in 2010, 2011, and 2012, and posted national finishes of tied for 2nd at the 2010 NCAA Regional, tied for 9th at the 2011 NCAA Championships, and 11th at the recent 2012 NCAA Championships.

JAY CLARK:

On whether he was surprised . . .

“I think a lot of people may be.”

On his reaction . . .

“Right now my general comment is I’ve been here a long time and I love the University with all my heart. Since I graduated it’s the only place I’ve worked. We’ve [he and wife/assistant coach Julie Ballard Clark] have been part of some great things since we’ve been here. I’m honored to be a part of it and I’ll always be a Dawg. I’ve always loved this place and I always will.”

On reasons for resignation . . .

“We’re expected to win championships and we wanted to. I’m sure the program will do well. I want every recruit that’s on board now to come here and I think every elite prospect in the country should want to come here.”

On the expectations of UGA leadership . . .

“I have the utmost respect for Greg McGarity and the leadership over there.”

GREG McGARITY:

On reasons for Clark’s resignation . . .

“I cant’ say anything. I’ll the the release stand.”

On search for successor . . .

“It begins immediately. We’re going over names and things of that nature as we speak.”

On threshold of success for UGA’s coaches . . .

“I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to talk about that right now, but you can refer some of my old quotes about that.” [McGarity has always said he judges coaches on SEC championships and NCAA postseason performances]

121 comments Add your comment

Jeff

May 4th, 2012
10:59 pm

Dear 1953dawg at 7:04 p.m. — you are the EXACT reason that some fan bases around the country think Georgia is a joke. Unrealistic expectations, quick triggers, and irrational rants are the trademarks of LOSING universities, not WINNING ones… and last I checked, Georgia is winning.

In the last 10 years, our football team has won 100 games, been to some BCS bowls, dominated our in-state rival, and won three SEC championships. Our baseball team has been to the College World Series several times, played in several NCAA Regionals and Super Regionals, and — a couple of times — knocked Tech OUT of the NCAAs with some big wins. Our golf and tennis teams have won multiple SEC and national titles. Our gymnastics team won five straight NCAA crowns. Our women’s basketball team wins 20-plus games a year, has been in a couple of SEC tournament championships (winning one), and been to the NCAA tourney every year. Our soccer team has had only one losing season in a decade. Our track and cross country programs have produced tons of All-SEC runners and NCAA qualifiers. And our only program that’s really struggled to find footing is the men’s basketball program, but a LOT of Southeastern Conference schools have issues with that (LSU, South Carolina, Alabama, Auburn, etc.)

Let’s be realistic — overall, UGA is one of the top 10-to-15 athletic programs in AMERICA. When you consider fan support, endowments, ticket and merchandise sales, facilities, donations, winning percentages, all-conference athletes, and All-Americans, Georgia is one of the top universities in the nation — how can you ARGUE with that? Why do you b**ch and moan because some coaches haven’t won SEC titles in 5 or 6 years? God FORBID we acknowledge that the SEC is the toughest conference in America in just about every sport, and that in such a highly-competitive league, Georgia’s success is pretty admirable!!! Whatever happened to appreciating the WHOLE athletic program — wins, integrity, facilities, character, graduation rates, academic success, and competitiveness???

Maybe you would prefer 1953, with 8 SEC schools, all white teams, no girls playing, and gray cinder-block facilities. Maybe you’d like a dirt track and a 30,000-seat football stadium and single-bar facemasks and greased-back hair and white tee-shirts and everybody smoking Marlboros in non-air-conditioned rooms on campus. But for ME, I am very proud of UGA and it’s athletic and academic repuatation (Note: UGA is one of the toughest academic institutions in the BCS conferences, and it also has one of the toughest discipline and drug policies of any athletic department). Yet Georgia remains competitive for SEC and national titles and is routinely one of the top schools in most sports. You know what? I’m proud of that and happy with that, and if you’re not, go crawl back under a rock and go root for some not-as-classy program like Texas or USC or Ohio State or Florida. As for me, I’ll proudly support my Dawgs — the players AND coaches AND athletic director, unless there’s a major reason not to (like your last A.D. and his red panties incident).

So get off McGarity’s back, let him do his job, and we’ll find out more about this gymnastics coaching change in the future. Good luck to Jay Clark, and GO DAWGS!!!

joe taxpayer

May 4th, 2012
11:12 pm

We have higher standards for the gymnastics team than the football team.

Moobs Johnson

May 4th, 2012
11:19 pm

Landers, Perno, and Richt all need to be shown the door. Mediocrity runs rampant through the halls of the Buttsmear building

10isbum

May 4th, 2012
11:20 pm

I’ve had season Gymdog tickets for over 25 years… and was a former gymnast. I’m in shock over this news – but sadly not surprised! I’d like to thank both Jay and Julie for all they’ve given the UGA program. Pls remember Jay was one of the best recruiters that Suzanne had – so her talent pool was partly his doing. I’m sorry to see him go and wished he’d been given another year but coming in 11th at the NCAAs was hard for everyone and especially for Jay. FWIW – I don’t know how that the NCAA beam fiasco happened and neither do the gymnasts. It was so surreal because beam was one of their strongest event all year until that meet. As for going forward – I hope that Doug McGavin will stay on. If you want an alumni from the program (and keep in mind Julie was one) – Courtney McCool is who I’d recommend to be considered . She was wonderful as a volunteer coach (last year – not this year!) – very highly respected from her roles as an Olympian, and an NCAA champion. She seems to have a way of building confidence as a coach which is a gift is rarely learned. I’m not sure she’d be ready to be a head coach – but I’d bet she’d be wonderful if the right support was in place for the administrative aspects & recruiting support as well. I have a feeling she’s the Manny Diaz a few would love seeing and are referring to. As for looking outside – I’d love to see Kathy Johnson Clark – but she’s not coached that I am aware of at the NCAA level. Kathy was an olympian and a world champion the year we boycotted the Olympics otherwise you’d know her name. She was also a wonderful coach. Good luck to Jay and Julie – I wish you the best!

Chip Towers

May 4th, 2012
11:21 pm

I’ve deleted the comments of 1953dawg on this post for name-calling and vulgar language and for generally being a jerk. He hasn’t been banned but he should consider himself warned. Your opinions are all welcomed no matter what they are, but they need to be shared and debated with civility. Thank you.

so, let me get this straight...

May 4th, 2012
11:22 pm

1953 Dawg, Snoop Dawg…you guys are morons. When I say morons, I mean idiots, buffoons, imbeciles and any other derogatory adjective that comes to mind…
Landers, multiple final fours, multiple conference titles,
Perno, multiple appearances in CWS
Richt, multiple appearances in SECCG.

Clark…good guy, no success.

dog from athens

May 4th, 2012
11:27 pm

Try the Alabama coach, then the Utah coach…if they won’t come, then raid Florida…if that doesn’t work, rehire Yoculan. If she wants the job, offer her before the others…
greatest promoter of gymnastics the conference has ever seen, and 10 Nat’l Titles…..need I say more?

antonio romero

May 4th, 2012
11:58 pm

way to go mcgarity. be a tough guy with the gymnastics program. how about your football coach?

Who Me?

May 5th, 2012
12:48 am

You’d have to think Landers days are numbered – too much potential squandered in too many NCAA tournaments….yeah, I can see both he and Perno looking for work later this spring….

A-Ville Ranger

May 5th, 2012
12:49 am

It’d be nuts not to consider Yoculan. There isn’t another candidate that would be remotely on her level. We have the greatest in history who has indicated she might be interested, how can McGarlty shrug that off.

Johnny DangerDawg

May 5th, 2012
1:52 am

As an assistant coach, Jay Clark was a big part of some national championships. Thanks for all your hard work, Jay!

Buzz 2011

May 5th, 2012
4:45 am

Check his pockets for red panties and hash browns prior to leaving Dog campus!!

TampaGator

May 5th, 2012
7:10 am

Success in winning championships in gymnastics this year goes to Alabama and Florida…..with Florida winning the SEC championship title and Bama winning the national championship title….hey…..that kind of sounds familar, doesn’t it?

TampaGator

May 5th, 2012
7:20 am

@at GaGator…..

As many predicted on here, last year for the Gators football team was a transition year from spread offense to pro offense and players. This year will be a building year….and maybe even more if the young QBs play well.

Does anyone else find the “Latest News” pop up too big and bothersome? If the AJC keeps adding these pop ups, there will be no more room for reading articles or posting.

Rick

May 5th, 2012
8:07 am

Unfortunately, not all assistant coaches should be head coaches. Bottom line is his did not win enough. Tough act to follow. Move forward not back.

RHall55

May 5th, 2012
8:21 am

Hoepefully the Football Staff takes notice: UGA, great college town, great educational programs, great sports tradition, great area to recruit, and great enthusiastic fans!! Win Conference and National Championships and you win the fans with 10X the enthusiasm!! Coach Mike Bobo (more innovative offense), Coach Rodney Garner (better in-state recruiting), Coach Joe T (more up-to-date strength programs) and Will Friend (has yet to earn to be called Coach: poor, poor recruiting and we have to see how he develops his players!!), please take notice!! CMR, you are the CEO of football, make the right decisions!!

Dawg-ma

May 5th, 2012
8:58 am

Name one sport UGA is not the Ole Miss of the Sec-East…and in the middle of the richest athlete base in the nation. And it’s frigging free. I don’t get it.

Joey

May 5th, 2012
9:20 am

“In the last 10 years, our football team has won 100 games, been to some BCS bowls, dominated our in-state rival, and won three SEC championships.”
**************************************************
Jeff, if you’re gonna be such a Richt-fan-boy, get your facts correct – when was that 3rd SEC Championship?

And it’s 98 wins in the past 10 seasons – a decent accomplishment – but in an era of 13 or 14 games per season, Richt’s average of a little under 10 wins per season is just not that great.

kreedham

May 5th, 2012
9:21 am

The bar has been raised for Andy Landers now that Pat Summitt has retired. I think he’s got twoyears to take advantage of that opportunity . How old is he…he might be thinking of retiring anyway!

kreedham

May 5th, 2012
9:24 am

Hines Ward was right….why don’t these kids stay home. Why parents let their kids play for some of these coaches (Saban and Petrino, e.g.). Be cause they’re all thinking my son will some day be a pro and he’ll take care of mommy and daddy!

Jesus christ

May 5th, 2012
9:28 am

Most gymnasts are gay.

DawgNole

May 5th, 2012
10:00 am

Snoop Dawg
May 4th, 2012
7:44 pm

Eddie, you are the odd man out here– and a blind homer embecile!
_________________________

It’s imbecile, you imbecile!

TampaGator

May 5th, 2012
10:27 am

@Dawg”Nole”

No well-educated English language person would use a single word to describe two consecutive nouns that follow it in a sentence. You can either be a blind homer, or you can be a blind imbecile…..but you can’t be a blind homer imbecile. That would be “embilcilic” sentence structure.

,,,,,,,and no “right in the head” Dawg would share a Dawg posting name with a “Nole”……as that would create a term that sound like thinking from an imbecile. I know you aren’t one, since only imbeciles root for the Seminoles from Free Shoes University,

TampaGator

May 5th, 2012
10:28 am

“sounds like” in that last post.

It has begun

May 5th, 2012
10:30 am

The stars are aligning at UGA with Dr. Adams eventual walk from UGA and now this Lady Dogs Gym coach. he was a complete disaster like Ron Jirsa and several others.

Landers needs to go. I am in my mid 60s and do recall when Lnaders had great squads in the mid 80s but has been a HUGE non facto since and now, even his recruiting is a disaster. he will be gone at the end of 2012-13 …………I hope.

Perno also needs to be gone. This year if we do not advance to post season CWS play ……..he needs to be fired.

CMR absolutely needs to take UGA to the SEC title and a major major bowl in 2012 and another SEC title in 2013 and another huge bowl.

Folks ………….UGA is a major school with tons and tons and tons of money AND facilities in a state chock full of HS talent in all major sports.

I suspect McGarity and Clark had that heart to to heart sit down talk and the fact that we looked dreadful in our TOP program ( as far as titles) he knew that he had to take a hike.

TampaGator

May 5th, 2012
10:47 am

@Joey…….

You are correct. Richt’s Dawgs have only won 2 SEC titles under his leadership (the same as Florida and Auburn…..and one more SEC title than the great one, Satan (I mean Saban) has won at Bama during his tenure. But, when you consider Georgia did not win a single SEC title during the previous 10 years, Richt has taken Georgia to a much higher level…..and they are now a top 10 program nationally, no doubt. And Georgia has one of the nation’s best athletic programs as well….and the Florida trained AD at Georgia understands that winning championships is the single goal of every funded athletic sport on campus. He learned a lot from Mr. Foley in Gainesville.

Hugh Jass

May 5th, 2012
10:54 am

I went to UGA when Julie Ballard was on the team. Student tickets were $1 to any sporting event, including gymnastics. They were awesome and exciting to watch. It is funny how people become interested in any sport when you are watching a winner. Hopefully they will find the fight fit.

David

May 5th, 2012
10:59 am

This hit me like a ton of bricks falling on my head. He did not have enough time to coach this team to get over the success of the past and rebuild a great successful program toward the future. This year I say good to great performances than great to good performances that why they did not win the national championship.

I have my list of coaches, let bring the UF coach here, I know that may not happen, however, it is no harm in asking. I love the way she coaches her girls!!!!. I will miss Jay and Julie who will always be my friends

TheTruth

May 5th, 2012
11:13 am

Ron Jirsa redo…..

Gulf Shores Dawg

May 5th, 2012
11:16 am

@Drew…agree, the AJC new format is a mess…popups like I’m playing a video game, geez! Bring back YOCULAN!!!

BobbyDawg

May 5th, 2012
11:29 am

I’ll second Loyal Supporter’s comments (5/4 @10:51PM). Jay has been loyal and committed to the GymDog Program for over 17 years….that’s more than most people give to anything or anyone. Also, great assistants make good coaches great coaches…this is true in most any sport. Jay’s excellence as an assistant and his dominance in recruiting through all of those championship years should not go unnoticed. Yoculan is a legend and deserves the credit for those championships but it takes a staff and team to win. She was a great coach but had amazing talent to work with. As we know, past performance is no guarantee of future success. One Team; not One Person.

It is true that it is almost impossible to be successful following a legend in most any sport, usually because the one following can never duplicate the past and rarely gets time to make it his/her own. I solute Jay and his staff for their dedication. With his current underclassman talent, upperclassmen leaders, and star recruits, he has done the GymDogs a great service by setting up the next coaching staff for certain success. It’s what great coaches and great people do. Go Dawgs!

Bobby Bulldog

May 5th, 2012
11:42 am

We can only wish the Clarks the best. Jay’s problem was that he didn’t have a Jay on the staff to take over many of the things that he did for Suzanne. Typically it doesn’t work out too well with husband-wife teams working together for a number of reasons It would have been better for them to have foregone the additional salary so that Julie could have done a good job as mother and helpmeet to Jay instead of a poor job as beam coach.

Flying Tigers

May 5th, 2012
11:55 am

Shows just what ugag really is, no loyalty, no class, and a joke of a university…just show me the money is all ugag is about and nothing more…of course most of the SEC is this way so why should anyone be surprised. Good luck to the young man and his wife that gave so much to the cess pool only to be dumped on.

TampaGator

May 5th, 2012
12:29 pm

@David…..

Seriously….the gymnastics coach at Florida leaves to come to Georgia……never gonna happen!

That would be like Jesus leaving God and his coaching job in heaven to take the the coaching job in heaven with Saban….I mean Satan.

Just joshing….fundamental Christians and Dawg lovers everywhere……and, of course, Roll Tide and all loyal Satan…..I mean….Saban worshippers.

TampaGator

May 5th, 2012
12:31 pm

@Flying Tigers…….

I guess your wife was not frisky with you last night and you are in a bad mood today.

GT

May 5th, 2012
12:37 pm

And Richt is still there?

Fan of the Game

May 5th, 2012
1:34 pm

It is tuff for an assistant to take over the reigns, no matter what sport. He was probably in a no win situation. It is a tough business. I have always said that the two things that everybody can do is coach and teach school. The critics always have the answers but most have never been in the trenches or the fire. Like most of these sports show host.

Fan of the Game

May 5th, 2012
1:35 pm

GT – you better hope he leaves so you will have a chance to win again.

Joey

May 5th, 2012
3:15 pm

“Jay has been loyal and committed to the GymDog Program for over 17 years….”
**************************************************
Bobby Bulldog, I agree that it’s a shame that it didn’t work out for the Clarks, who gave it their best. I hope they land on their feet, and have success soon.

Here at UGA, we have our share of coaches who no doubt were loyal Dawgs, but just couldn’t get the job done, and Ray Goff leads that pack.

With Adams retirement announcement, there has been some negative talk of Vince Dooley’s coaching, mostly by the techies (with tiny stingers), but maybe a few by UGA fans. I won’t get into a peeing contest over this, but I will say that whenever and wherever Vince Dooley took his Bulldogs onto a playing field, at Tuscaloossa, Auburn, Knoxville, Jax, Atlanta, Miami, New Orleans, Dallas, hell, even Ann Arbor, MI, he and his team had a shot to win. Dog Fans could seriously believe that Vince Dooley could (and did many times) win a coach against a favored team with more talent.

Does anybody seriously, honestly believe that these days?

Billdawg

May 5th, 2012
3:20 pm

Don’t look for Suzanne Yoculan to return..McGarity is not one of her fans. He will be looking for his on people to fill the job. Which could be a good thing are ? .

GT

May 5th, 2012
3:23 pm

Fan of the game for your info–GT stands for my name George Turner.Get a life!

David

May 5th, 2012
3:24 pm

Tampa Gator, no disrespect to the Gator program, coaches change jobs to get better pay and to work for elite sport programs. Because of the great success of all Florida athletic programs, the
gymnastics program does not get the respect that the other sports get at UF. I been down there about five meets and the best crowd was 6,000.
The Gym Dogs program is an elite program, they sell out their gym, they have raise this sport where other SEC programs had to get better to compete with them. Alabama, always have a great program won the last two NCAA Championship gives credit to the Gym dogs want they have done to this sport. In this sport, the Gym Dogs coaching job in gymnastics world is simplier to Kentucky coaching job for Basketball. I know you would disagree with that statement, but 10 NCAA National Championship teams classified an elite program. All you have to do is visit the Gym Dogs Practice Facility see all those pictures and awards on the wall there is greatness there. This job is a coaches dream job for anyone who get it!!!!

Billdawg

May 5th, 2012
3:37 pm

I agree David..should have alot to pick from.

Whopper Dawg

May 5th, 2012
4:11 pm

Obviously, there is a completely different standard applied to gymnastics than the football program. This guy finishes third three times and is gone. richie should have been gone long, long ago.

TampaGator

May 5th, 2012
4:15 pm

@David……

God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit just don’t switch jobs. If you don’t believe me, ask Sara Palin.

TampaGator

May 5th, 2012
4:27 pm

“the gymnastics program (Florida) does not get the respect that the other sports get at UF. I been down there about five meets and the best crowd was 6,000.”

@David……

“A record crowd of 10,855 viewed the Jan. 18, 2008 gymnastics meet featuring No. 1 Florida and No. 2 Georgia at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center……. Florida gymnastics turned in the program’s third-highest attendance average of more than 6,100 per meet in 2011, which ranked fourth in the nation.”

-GatorZone.com

Also…..check out the photo of a Florida meet vs. Georgia at:

http://www.gatorzone.com/facilities/?venue=oconn&sport=gymna

Sorry, but you are wrong about the enthusiasm and respect the Florida gymnatics program gets in Gainesville. 4th hightest gymnastics attendance in the nation is plenty of respect…..and the volleyball team gets the same kind of respect.

TampaGator

May 5th, 2012
4:32 pm

also….David…..

Florida won the SEC gym title this year…..not Georgia. And…..again…somehow….an Alabama team….that did not win the SEC title…..won the national title….not Georgia. That has to be embarrassing to the glory of the Georgia program…..and that probably got the coach fired.

And….Florida has the #1 gymnist in the country…..and she is only a freshman. The coach ain’t gonna go anywhere…..not even Georgia.

TampaGator

May 5th, 2012
4:35 pm

……..and the Florida swim coach is not gonna go to Georgia either.

Ditto for the golf coach. Ditto for the baseball coach. Ditto for the basketball coaches. Ditto for the field hockey coach. Ditto for the tennis coach. Ditto…in fact….for the waterboys for all those teams. NOT GONNA HAPPEN……ask Newt Gingrich……you just don’t SWITCH unless the wife has a serious illness.

David

May 5th, 2012
4:37 pm

Another comment to Tampa Gator, I know Coach Rhonda at Florida. She loves Florida, I seen her preform as an gymnastic star at UCLA and at the Seoul Olympics. She has became a great coach there and has raise the program there to win SEC Championships; however, it puts tears to my eyes that gym is never sold out. Now, again you may say this may never happen because it a Georgia Florida thing, you might be right, however, if Coach Rhonda decides to leave Florida for the UGA job, that would be an excellent move for her to go to a program where gymnastics is worship and the support is great. If I was the Georgia AD, Rhonda would be my first choice, and I would contact her immediately and not wait. I would even give her a buy out contract, so Florida could find a new coach quickly.

TampaGator

May 5th, 2012
4:38 pm

The Florida women’s lacrosse team just won the national title today…..and the coach is not gonna to go to Georgia either.