Utah Gymnastics Coach Megan Marsden Retires

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – One of the most iconic names in the history of collegiate gymnastics, Utah coach Megan Marsden announced that she is retiring.

Marsden will remain as an ambassador for the Utah athletics department. She steps away from coaching after joining the Red Rocks staff in 1985.

“Megan Marsden is and always will be a legend,” said Utah Director of Athletics Mark Harlan. “I have been so privileged to spend this last year with her and witness her compassion and care for all of her student-athletes. Utah gymnastics, with its championships and rabid fan base, will forever serve as a monument to Megan’s passion and leadership. I am grateful that she will stay with us in a very important ambassador role and help continue the advancement of the athletics department as a whole. In the coming months we will celebrate her amazing career and accomplishments, allowing Red Rocks’ fans and alumni to say ‘thank you’ to Megan for all that she accomplished and her enormous service to the University of Utah.”

She completed her 35th season as a coach for Utah. Marsden has been co-head coach since 2010 and the last four years with Tom Farden – who will assume sole leadership of the program.

“I cannot express how lucky I have been to spend all these years at the University of Utah competing alongside and coaching so many talented, strong, smart, amazing young women,” said Marsden. “To participate in multiple national championships as both an athlete and a coach at your alma mater is a thrill few people get to experience. But certainly the best part of my time here is the wonderful family of women we brought together at Utah and who will always be in my life. I made a decision several months ago that this would be my last season as a coach and I am so proud of this team and all they accomplished. I am glad this season could be all about them as that is how I wanted it.”

When she was named co-head coach in 2010, she joined her husband Greg as the two at the helm.

“When Greg (husband and former Utah head coach Greg Marsden) retired, I planned to stay on another three to five years. I have enjoyed last four years co-coaching with Tom (Farden) and he has demonstrated complete capability in every area necessary to be a successful head coach on his own here. Greg and I could see those qualities in him early on, and while neither of us knew an exact timeline, we knew that one day we wanted to turn the program over to him. The Utah gymnastics program is in good hands with Tom. I have loved working with brilliant men like Greg and Tom and they have always appreciated what I brought to the program as well. I got to spend most of my time outside practices and competitions doing the aspects of the job I love the most, like the nutrition, fitness, personal development and wellness of our student-athletes. Now I look forward to moving to a role of quiet support. Except during meets that is. Then I’ll be cheering for my Utes!”

Marsden was a gymnast for the University of Utah from 1981-84 and won four national championships. As a coach, she led the Red Rocks to six national titles. Utah never missed a national championship in her 39 years with the program.

Since joining the Pac-12, Utah won three conference titles. She has led the Red Rocks to have two NCAA individual titles on the floor and vault by MyKayla Skinner in 2017-18.

Thank you Megan for dedicating the last four decades of you life to building the Utah Gymnastics dynasty. Your contributions will forever be etched in the Red Rocks record books… pic.twitter.com/zLjZcXEBeC

— Utah Gymnastics (@UtahGymnastics) April 22, 2019