Minnesota Gymnastics Without a Head Coach

Minnesota Gymnastics Without a Head Coach

Oct 4, 2014 by Keri Monstrola
Minnesota Gymnastics Without a Head Coach
With official fall practices starting… the Minnesota Gophers are still without a head coach. The Gophers are without a head coach after the stepping down of Meg Stephenson back in August. Stephenson stepped down after a year of retaliation and sexual harassment claims. The University has not made any comments regarding the stepping down of Meg Stephenson. 


Pictured: Junior Lindsay Mable 
 
Last Season: 
The Gophers finished the 2014 season by placing third at regionals, missing a bid to the 2014 NCAA National Championships. Lindsay Mable and Hanna Nordquist qualified individually to represent their teams.  Although the Gophers tied for the regular season Big 10 Championship, they fell to 3rd place at the Big 10 Championships as a team. 
 
Currently: 
The University of Minnesota's 2014-15 gymnastics team has started official fall practice. According to the University of Minnesota website, they currently have Jenny Hansen listed as the Associate Head Coach and Louie Johnson as the Assistant Coach. There are two coaching positions open and listed by the University. The head coach position was posted on August 29. Two assistant coaches are also posted on September 9. It looks as though the University is looking for a whole new staff. 
 
Food for thought: 
With the coaching positions listed it looks that the University will be replacing the entire coaching staff. Does that mean that current coaches Hansen and Johnson will be out at Minnesota? It has been said that Hansen herself didn't handle the situation with Stephenson with the best intentions. From the outside looking in, the girls on this team are the ones who are suffering. How will this year’s team respond following a new coach and controversy within the program? There has been a lot of chatter about the timing of the exit of Stephenson along with the delay in hiring a new coach. With a new head coach search happening so late in the "season" it will be interesting to see who Minnesota can land as their new head coach. 
 
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. Who do you think will be the head coach for the 2015 season? 
 
Related: