Big news today out of the NCAA.
University of Illinois Director of Athletics Ron Guenther announced today the promotion of three current staff members to fill the vacancy left by retiring men’s gymnastics head coach Yoshi Hayasaki. Women’s gymnastics head coach Bob Starkell has been promoted to Director of Gymnastics, men’s assistant coach Justin Spring is promoted to Associate Head Coach and visiting assistant coach Ivan Ivankov will now be an assistant coach. …
Fighting Illini – Women’s National Coach of the Year To Oversee Both UI Gymnastics Programs; Spring to Retire from Competition
No mention on that official post of the embarrassing resignation of Yoshi’s original successor, Justin Spring’s personal coach Jon Valdez. Valdez was charged with unauthorized videotaping athletes in the change room earlier in the season.
I’ve never heard any comment from Justin Spring on that incident.
Seems Illinois has moved on. Good luck to everyone there.
=== UPDATE:
… “I’m thrilled, excited and honored to be given this opportunity by the University of Illinois,†Spring told Inside, shortly after the announcement became public. “I think that, in a lot of ways, this is more of a once in a lifetime opportunity than being an Olympic gymnast. There are so few men’s programs left and it’s such an honor to be [put in charge] of one of them. This is it. I couldn’t ask for anything more.†…
(via Inside Gymnastics on Twitter)
Gymnastics Coaching.com 