Scratch this national title winning coach off list for UGA gymnastics opening, per report
A former Georgia gymnastics coach who won a national championship over the weekend won’t be coming back to his old job, according to a published report.
LSU coach Jay Clark, the toast of Baton Rouge after guiding the Tigers’ to the program’s first ever NCAA championship, is staying put with LSU after being pursued by Georgia, according to The Advocate which cited sources. That comes amid Clark making the rounds for media interviews after the national title and a parade scheduled for Wednesday night on campus.
Clark was a top target for Georgia to replace Courtney Kupets Carter who was fired on Friday. Clark was head coach of the Gym Dogs from 2010-12, succeeding Suzanne Yoculan who retired in 2009 after winning 10 national championships.
LSU assistants Courtney McCool Griffeth, a former Georgia gymnast, and Garrett Griffeth could also have been in the mix after Clark. They and assistant Ashleigh Grant are also getting raises, The Advocate reported.
Clark said Tuesday afternoon on On Sirius XM’s “Off Campus," that he was supposed to travel to Houston on Monday but had to change his plans.
“I ended up having to fight off some people coming after my assistant coaches so I sent them to Houston and wound up yesterday on the phone negotiating things to make sure that I could keep this group intact,” Clark said. “We were able to do that.”
Clark made no mention in the interview of his involvement in the Georgia opening.
Clark and his top assistants are in store for raises, according to The Advocate.
That may have been coming anyway after the championship but being pursued by his alma mater again may mean even more money for Clark.
.Georgia is believed to also have interest in Arkansas coach Jordyn Wieber and California co-coaches Justin Howell and Elisabeth Crandall-Howell
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: LSU's Jay Clark won't be returning to Georgia gymnastics, per report
