Personally, I can’t see Francis Allen retire. I just don’t see him puttering around in the garden. Or retiring from Lincoln, Nebraska to Florida.
Francis Allen, 66, who has served as men’s gymnastics head coach for the University of Nebraska for 40 seasons and won eight NCAA team championship titles, announced he is retiring effective July 1, 2009. Allen, who had nine former gymnasts compete in the Olympic Games, was the head coach for the men’s 1980 and 1992 U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Teams. Under his leadership, his gymnasts won nearly 30 U.S. titles.
“It is almost impossible to measure the impact Francis has had, not only on the sport of gymnastics but also on the lives of many young men,” said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. …
read more on USAG – Nebraska head coach Allen retires
Francis Allen is a larger than life individual, unforgettable if you’ve ever met him.
When I was a young coach, his reputation was as a stand up comedian. Constantly cracking wise.
Even when I visited his gym last year, Francis was as energetic as ever. A great student of the game. Always enthusiastic to share his latest training video.
I expect he’ll still be very involved in gymnastics. But no longer officially Head Coach.
Read tributes in ESPN, USA Today, Sports Illustrated, and the official notice on Nebraska Huskers.com.
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What’s next?
Long time assistant coaches Chuck Chmelka and / or Jim Hartung are the likely candidates to take over for Francis.
Inside Gymnastics on Facebook pointed me to the BAD News:
Athletic Director Tom Osborne does not guarantee Nebraska Men’s Gymnastics will continue past the 2010 season. It’s under ongoing review.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 