ATHENS — Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity has often said that he judges the Bulldogs’ coaches on SEC championships and NCAA postseason performances. Georgia gymnastics coach Jay Clark on Friday felt the wrath of that philosophy as he resigned just three years after succeeding legendary coach Suzanne Yoculan.
Clark met with McGarity on Friday afternoon and tendered his resignation at some point during the meeting. Clark, who was Yoculan’s top assistant for 17 years before she retired, has two years remaining on his contract.
Asked if he had an opportunity to return for another season, Clark said: “I resigned. At this point I don’t have a lot to say beyond that.”
McGarity was equally mum when reached by telephone shortly after the news release was sent out at 5:30 p.m. Friday. “I can’t really say anything else,” said McGarity, who has been on the job for 18 months. “I’ll let the release stand for itself.”
McGarity did say the search for Clark’s successor “begins immediately. We’re going over names and things of that nature as we speak.”
Clark worked for Yoculan while the Bulldogs won most of their 10 national championships, including five consecutive before Yoculan retired following the 2009 season. Under Clark, Georgia had three third-place finishes in the SEC, missed the NCAA championships one year and finished ninth and 11th in the other two. They never made it to the “Super Six” round.
“We’re expected to win championships, and we wanted to,” Clark said. “I’m sure the program will do well. I want every recruit that’s on board now to come here, and I think every elite prospect in the country should want to come here.”
Yoculan was not happy to hear the news. “Nothing in athletics surprises me,” she said via text message.
Asked if she would consider coming out of retirement, she replied: “Anything can happen.”
Unless, Yoculan comes back, Georgia will have to completely retool its gymnastics staff. Clark’s assistants include his wife, Julie Ballard Clark, and longtime Yoculan aide Doug McAvinn.
