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SALT LAKE CITY — For the University of Utah, Greg Marsden’s retirement affects much more than the gymnastics program.
Marsden came to the university from Arkansas as a graduate student after earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physical education. He met fellow graduate student Chris Hill, Utah’s current athletics director, and the pair became close friends.
“We used to sit around and talk about how stupid the decisions were that the people who ran the athletics department (made),” Marsden said, laughing in a news conference announcing his retirement Tuesday. “We thought we could do it so much better if we had the chance.”
All jokes aside, they were given the opportunity and revamped the department.
Starting in 1973-74, Hill became the graduate assistant basketball coach on Bill Foster’s staff and later became the university athletics director (1987). He was instrumental in Utah joining the Pac-12 in 2010. Under Hill’s leadership, the football program, which hadn’t played in a bowl game since 1964, has a 12-4 record in bowl games. The men’s basketball team has advanced to the Sweet Sixteen six times, the Elite Eight twice and appeared in the 1998 NCAA Championship against Kentucky.
We used to sit around and talk about how stupid the decisions were that the people who ran the athletics department (made). We thought we could do it so much better if we had the chance.
–Greg Marsden
“I am in awe of what he has accomplished for the city of Salt Lake, the University of Utah and the athletics department. It has been absolutely unbelievable,” said Marsden of Hill.
Marsden was asked to start a gymnastics program in 1975, which ended up going to the AIAW National Championship, finishing 10th.
It was the start of a legacy. Marsden retires as the winningest coach in college gymnastics history with a record of 1,048-208-8. His teams never missed a championship, with Utah qualifying for an unprecedented 40 straight years, including all 34 NCAA Championships. He led the Red Rocks to 19 Super Six competitions out of 23 years the format has existed.
Marsden’s teams have placed in the nation’s top five 29 times, top three 23 times and in the top two 19 times, including this year’s second-place finish.
“He’s done a lot more than people know,” Hill said of Marsden.
As they took the reins of the athletics programs, Hill and Marsden had frequent long talks. Sometimes they’d talk about life, other times it’d be philosophical discussions. They leaned on each other and shared advice on everything, just like any good friends.
“He’s given me advice and helped the whole department in ways that people don’t understand,” said Hill. “There are so many things that were in the best interest of our student athletes that I never would’ve thought of if it weren’t for Greg.”
During Marsden’s career, he consistently focused on student athletes. Whether it was promoting his program to get an average of 14,950 fans in the stands or keeping his retirement under wraps for a year to avoid “The Greg Marsden Farewell Tour,” he strived to keep his gymnasts in the spotlight.
Related:
Utah gymnastics coach Greg Marsden announces retirement
After 40 seasons as the Utah gymnastics head coach, Greg Marsden is retiring.“For me, it’s always been about them. I wanted to be a teacher and I got into coaching by chance. I fell in love with it because it was an opportunity to be the ultimate teacher,” said Marsden.
But outside of his team, Hill said Marsden has been a heartbeat of Utah athletics.
“Greg has always helped orchestrate what Utah athletics is doing today,” said Hill. “He’s always in charge. He told me what to say, what not to say. From my standpoint, you can have a lot of dark moments in athletics. When things are tough, that’s when you find out who your friends are.”
And Marsden agrees, saying that in a leadership position it’s all about the people you surround yourself with.
So as the 64-year-old retiree tries to find a new hobby to fill his newfound time, Utah athletics will start a new journey. The gymnastics program will carry on with current co-head coach Megan Marsden, Greg Marsden’s wife, and assistant Tom Farden as the team's head coaches.
Hill is confident putting the gymnastics program in the hands of “two great co-head coaches,” saying it’s better than it’s ever been.
As for how Marsden feels about it all, he has one thing to say.
“Here we go, the next great adventure.”
