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SALT LAKE CITY — After 35 years, Utah gymnastics co-head coach Megan Marsden is retiring, the team announced on Monday.
“Megan Marsden is and always will be a legend,” Utah Director of Athletics Mark Harlan said in a statement. “I have been so privileged to spend this last year with her and witness her compassion and care for all of her student-athletes.”
Marsden just finished her 35th season on the Red Rocks’ coaching staff this past weekend at the NCAA Championship. She’s served as the team’s co-head coach since 2010, the last four with Tom Farden.
Marsden said she made her decision several months ago, but chose to keep her choice quiet as she wanted the season to be all about the team, just as her husband and former Utah head coach Greg Marsden did before retiring at the end of the 2015 season.
“When Greg retired, I planned to stay on another three to five years,” Marsden said in a statement. “I have enjoyed the last four years co-coaching with Tom 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.”
Marsden starred on four national championship teams at Utah from 1981-84 before helping coach the team to another six titles. After graduating, she became an assistant on Greg’s staff, later earning promotions to associate and co-head coach. Utah’s program never missed a national championship in Marsden’s 39 years in the program. She compiled a 222-80-3 record as co-head coach, earning No. 200 at the 2018 NCAA Championship.
"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," Marsden said in a statement. "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.”
On top of the many other accomplishments, Marsden was a two-time Pac-12 Coach of the Year (2014, 2015 with Greg Marsden) and two-time Regional Coach of the Year (2011, 2012). She was also the 2005 National Assistant Coach of the Year and the 2005 and 2007 Regional Assistant Coach of the Year.
In addition to coaching, Marsden played a key role with the Red Rocks’ nutrition education, community service, fundraising and recruiting.
In 1996, Marsden became the first gymnast inducted into the Utah athletics department's Crimson Club Hall of Fame. In 2003, she was inducted into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame.
Marsden will continue to be involved with Utah athletics as she plans to be an ambassador for the department.
