University of Georgia Athletics
Georgia Gym Blog: Suzanne Yoculan
October 09, 2009 | Gymnastics
I first saw him in the old Women’s Physical Education building outside the gymnastics practice facility. He was peering in the windows. He was a student, majoring in Exercise and Sports Science, and a lot of classes for this major were held in this building. This young student was intrigued by our sport and began asking questions of some of the athletes as they came to and from practice.
I eventually invited this lingering, inquisitive young man to help out in the gym and at the home meets, where he moved mats and set up equipment. Doug McAvinn, our assistant coach, established a friendship with him and began to mentor him. Doug is the master of technique and he taught him the mechanics of gymnastics, composition of routines and how to spot the landings of the athletes for safety purposes. That summer, Doug’s young protégé taught full time in our camp. He had a strong background in body mechanics, kinesiology, physical therapy and health and nutrition. Because of this, he learned quickly. The next year, I made him our restricted earnings coach, coaching the uneven bars.
This new coach’s personality and charisma, sense of humor and charm made recruiting one of his strengths. Sure enough, he hit the road with a vengeance and landed the top athletes in the country in his first year. His originality and creativity during recruiting battles caused quite a stir with our competitors. He told recruits that when they were ready to commit, they were to call and say “Hey, BUB!” That’s a nickname reserved for Gym Dogs.
He took a leave of absence for two years to fine tune his management skills as a gym owner, and to coach developmental gymnastics with an emphasis on the fundamentals. He returned a more mature, passionate coach and it was clear to me he was destined to be a head coach.
I believe that a lot of his success as a recruiter is due to the fact that he sincerely believes that the University of Georgia has the best balance of athletics and academics of any college. He believes strongly that our community and campus life are second to none. And let's not forget our great fans! When he walks into a home representing our school, all he has to do is be himself. It is the Bulldog in him that makes him a winner.
This Georgia Bulldog grew up in Roswell, Ga., playing ball in the front yard wearing a No. 8 Georgia jersey. He can recite every football play, from Belue to Scott to beat Florida in 1980, Kevin Butler to beat Clemson in ‘84 to the "Hobnail Boot” at Tennessee.
In just a few years, his reputation as a coach and recruiter had become widely known. He was a finalist for the head coaching position at the University of Oklahoma before he withdrew and was offered the job at Ohio State University. I reminded him that he bleeds Red and Black. I asked him to stay at Georgia, to trust me, and that someday his dream job would become a reality. His wife was our volunteer coach and was anxious to find a full time position and begin her coaching career by his side. Not knowing how long he would have to wait, the decision to stay at Georgia or accept an immediate job as a head coach at another established program was difficult. His faith in God, his trust in me, and his loyalty to Georgia won out.
Today, twenty years after peering into the windows at the old Women’s Physical Education Building, this former student is the new head coach of the Gym Dogs. Welcome Jay Clark.
I eventually invited this lingering, inquisitive young man to help out in the gym and at the home meets, where he moved mats and set up equipment. Doug McAvinn, our assistant coach, established a friendship with him and began to mentor him. Doug is the master of technique and he taught him the mechanics of gymnastics, composition of routines and how to spot the landings of the athletes for safety purposes. That summer, Doug’s young protégé taught full time in our camp. He had a strong background in body mechanics, kinesiology, physical therapy and health and nutrition. Because of this, he learned quickly. The next year, I made him our restricted earnings coach, coaching the uneven bars.
This new coach’s personality and charisma, sense of humor and charm made recruiting one of his strengths. Sure enough, he hit the road with a vengeance and landed the top athletes in the country in his first year. His originality and creativity during recruiting battles caused quite a stir with our competitors. He told recruits that when they were ready to commit, they were to call and say “Hey, BUB!” That’s a nickname reserved for Gym Dogs.
He took a leave of absence for two years to fine tune his management skills as a gym owner, and to coach developmental gymnastics with an emphasis on the fundamentals. He returned a more mature, passionate coach and it was clear to me he was destined to be a head coach.
I believe that a lot of his success as a recruiter is due to the fact that he sincerely believes that the University of Georgia has the best balance of athletics and academics of any college. He believes strongly that our community and campus life are second to none. And let's not forget our great fans! When he walks into a home representing our school, all he has to do is be himself. It is the Bulldog in him that makes him a winner.
This Georgia Bulldog grew up in Roswell, Ga., playing ball in the front yard wearing a No. 8 Georgia jersey. He can recite every football play, from Belue to Scott to beat Florida in 1980, Kevin Butler to beat Clemson in ‘84 to the "Hobnail Boot” at Tennessee.
In just a few years, his reputation as a coach and recruiter had become widely known. He was a finalist for the head coaching position at the University of Oklahoma before he withdrew and was offered the job at Ohio State University. I reminded him that he bleeds Red and Black. I asked him to stay at Georgia, to trust me, and that someday his dream job would become a reality. His wife was our volunteer coach and was anxious to find a full time position and begin her coaching career by his side. Not knowing how long he would have to wait, the decision to stay at Georgia or accept an immediate job as a head coach at another established program was difficult. His faith in God, his trust in me, and his loyalty to Georgia won out.
Today, twenty years after peering into the windows at the old Women’s Physical Education Building, this former student is the new head coach of the Gym Dogs. Welcome Jay Clark.
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