Florida’s Rhonda Faehn resigns to take position with USA Gymnastics

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – University of Florida head gymnastics coach Rhonda Faehn announced this morning that she is leaving the Gator program to become Senior Vice President of USA Gymnastics.

Faehn just finished her 13^th season as head of the Gator program, with Florida taking the last three NCAA Championships. She was a member of the 1988 U.S. Olympic team and was a four-year member of the U.S. National Team.

2015 NCAA champions

2014 NCAA champions

2013 NCAA champions

Faehn said:

“The University of Florida has provided an opportunity of a lifetime for me, my family and our student-athletes and I am so grateful. I couldn't have asked for a more rewarding and supportive atmosphere to do what I love.

“This amazing opportunity with USA Gymnastics provides a new and different way for me to impact young lives. I will always love the University of Florida and will treasure my time here. But my passion and excitement for Elite gymnastics is pulling me a different direction and the timing is right for me and my family. I want to have a positive influence on the athletes and coaches that will represent our country at the highest level.”

“I would like to thank the Florida administration, my staff and all my current and former student-athletes for helping to build such an amazing tradition of excellence. I know the program will continue to thrive and I will always be a Florida Gator.”– Rhonda Faehn

Jeremy Foley said:

“I have such mixed emotions right now. Of course, I'm happy for this wonderful opportunity for Rhonda. She will continue to make a difference in young athlete's lives with USA Gymnastics, just like she's done at Florida.

“But also there is sadness. Rhonda came in here 13 years ago, sharing our vision that Florida could be a national contender. She went to work and made that vision a reality. And in the last three years, she taken this program from nationally prominent to national champion. She's done an absolutely spectacular job.

“Rhonda, her staff and her student-athletes have represented this program and this University with such spirit, class and integrity. We cannot thank her enough for all she has given the University of Florida. We wish nothing but the best for her and her wonderful family as they begin this outstanding opportunity.” – Jeremy Foley, University of Florida Athletics Director

Faehn at Florida

Faehn took the Gator program from national qualifier to national contender to NCAA champion during her tenure. The last three NCAA Championships have been claimed by the Gators – the first NCAA team titles in the program's 43-year history.

Here's a few of the many highlights of Faehn's years with the Gator:

· Florida was the first head coaching position for Faehn when she took the position in May of 2002. In her second season, the Gators advanced to the 2004 NCAA Super Six team final for the first time since 1998. Since that time, the Gators have been a Super Six regular, advancing 10 of Faehn's 13 seasons. Florida has 10 top-five NCAA finishes since 2004.

· In 2007, the Gators claimed their first Southeastern Conference title in 17 seasons. Since then, the Gators also won the conference crown in the nation's most competitive gymnastics league in 2010, 2012 and 2013.

· Since 2011, four Gators have collected 11 NCAA event titles. Two – Kytra Hunter (2012) and Bridget Sloan (2013) – have earned the Honda Award as the top collegiate gymnast of the year. Under Faehn's guidance, 34 Gator gymnasts have earned 142 All-America honors in NCAA competition.

· Faehn found success on the recruiting trail, as Florida's classes have ranked as the nation's No. 1 in five of the last six seasons (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015).

· Faehn was the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches (NACGC) National Coach of the Year in 2007, seven-time regional coach of the year and a six-time SEC Coach of the Year.

· Gator gymnastics was active in the Gainesville community. They are present at many events and activities throughout the year. The Harvest Food Drive, an annual gymnastics clinic which participants contribute canned food items, collected more the 1,340 pounds of food in the fall of 2014.

· Florida gymnastics has performed well in the classroom, collecting 108 Academic All-SEC honors since 2003. In the fall of 2014, the Gator gymnasts turned in a cumulative grade point average of 3.41.

Click here for her complete bio

Florida Finishes Under Faehn					Faehn Record
					Record (through SEC Championships)				Record (all meetings)
Year	SEC	Region	NCAA	All-America honors^	W	L	T	%	W	L	T	%
2003	3^rd	2^nd	7^th	4 with 6 honors	27	5	0	84%	33	9	0	79%
2004	4^th	2^nd	5^th	7 with 12 honors	16	9	0	64%	21	13	1	61%
2005	4^th	1^st	7^th	1 with 1 honor	17	7	0	71%	24	10	0	71%
2006	3^rd	1^st	4^th	4 with 6 honors	20	4	0	83%	30	9	0	77%
2007	1^st	1^st	3^rd	6 with 15 honors	21	0	1	98%	32	4	1	88%
2008	T2^nd	1^st	4^th	5 with 15 honors	12	3	1	77%	24	6	1	79%
2009	3^rd	1^st	4^th	5 with 9 honors	10	6	0	63%	21	10	0	68%
2010	1^st	1^st	5^th	7 with 11 honors	15	2	0	82%	25	7	0	78%
2011	2^nd	2^nd	7^th	4 with 9 honors	17	2	0	89%	22	6	0	88%
2012	1^st	1^st	2^nd	6 with 16 honors	17	1	0	94%	30	3	0	91%
2013	1^st	1^st	1^st	6 with 16 honors	15	2	0	88%	31	2	0	91%
2014	2^nd	1^st	T1st	6 with 13 honors	15	2	0	88%	28	2	2	91&
2015	3^rd	1^st	1^st	5 with 13 honors	12	5	0	71%	26	5	1	83%
Totals				34 individuals with 142 honors	214	48	2	81%	347	86	6	80%

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Florida’s Rhonda Faehn resigns to take position with USA Gymnastics

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Florida’s Rhonda Faehn resigns to take position with USA Gymnastics

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