I really can't say when it will end. I am healthy, energetic and still love what I’m doing. My 3-4 hours in the gym is my favorite time of the day. – Greg Marsden
SALT LAKE CITY — When asked to sum up 40 years, Utah gymnastics co-head coach Greg Marsden laughs, then replies, “It’s been a wild ride.” Marsden has been captain of that ride since the Utah gymnastics program began.
“You can’t imagine Utah gymnastics without Greg Marsden because there never has been Utah gymnastics without him,” said former Utah great Missy Marlowe.
Marlowe, like many, saw unprecedented success under Marsden’s direction. An interesting outcome considering he never intended to become a gymnastics coach. Rather, he had his sights set on becoming a professor.
“What I really wanted to do with my life was teach, and wound up finding out coaching is the ultimate form of teaching,” said Marsden.
The Arkansas native came to Utah to finish out his doctorate degree, but agreed to help start the Utah gymnastics program with limited knowledge and funding. He translated what he knew about gymnastics from his training as a diver, and used his research skills from his education to immerse himself in all things gymnastics.
He never finished his Ph.D., but former gymnast Lia Del Priore, who is currently completing her student-teaching, said she believes Marsden is the epitome of a teacher.
“Greg is so invested in the process that I wonder if he could have even given grades,” said Del Priore. “But that’s what is so great about him, is that he wants you to grow and learn more than anything.”
“Absolutely, I do believe it’s about the process,” said Marsden.
But when asked then why he is so passionate about scores, he chuckles and fires back.
“I always realized to get to do what I wanted to do, I had to play the game. You’ve got to win to have success to keep your job,” said Marsden.
The coach has taken flak for past outbursts around scoring — not letting his team finish a meet at BYU in 1994 and drawing a yellow card in 2012 to name a couple of incidents. But, he believes someone needs to fight for the gymnasts and all of their hard work.
“The thing I always knew as an athlete was that he had your back no matter what,” said Marlowe. “He’s a fighter and he expected us to be. He is a perfectionist in every way, and yet he didn’t necessarily expect us to be perfect. There was this overriding feeling he wasn’t going to leave any stone unturned to help you succeed.”
Success is something that has come in abundance over the 40 years. Accolades include 338 NCAA All-Americans and 10 national championships (tied with Georgia), which both lead the country, as well as 24 individual event champions and a fan base beyond any other.
“The Utah gymnasts have had every tool they’ve needed to remain competitive — Greg has demanded it,” said Marlowe. “If he ever felt like they were getting slighted or not getting what another major sport was getting, he was the first one to throw a fit. You don’t accomplish what he has done by being a wallflower. You do it by fighting every day.”
Marsden was the first gymnastics coach to reach 1,000 wins, something he did last season. He did it by recruiting well and surrounding himself with strong assistant coaches, including his wife, Megan, who was promoted to co-head coach in 2010.
“Megan has been a big part of this and I can’t imagine any of it without her,” said Marsden.
Though the wins and championships are what Marsden will be remembered for in the record books, he likes to reflect elsewhere on the journey.
“I tell my team every year to enjoy each other and really enjoy the experience,” said Marsden. “You work so hard to win the Pac-12, a national or individual championship or whatever is it is you are working toward. But when it’s all over — 10 years from now — the accolades will be in a closet somewhere. It’s not the hardware or the rings, but the times with all of the people that stand out in my mind the most.”
While Marsden takes jabs here and there that Utah hasn’t won a championship since 1995 and that a new crop of teams and coaches is making waves, the truth is the coach still produces. Utah has made 39 straight national championship appearances, while winning last year’s Pac-12 title and being favored again this year. The team is currently ranked No. 4, and has the nation’s best all-arounder this season in Georgia Dabritz.
“I really can't say when it will end," said Marsden. "I am healthy, energetic and still love what I’m doing. My 3-4 hours in the gym is my favorite time of the day.”
The Utah gymnasts, alumni and Marsden will celebrate 40 years Friday. The Red Rocks' home meet against Arizona State starts at 6 p.m. with introductions beginning at 5:45.