Legendary Coach Allen Announces Retirement

Long-time University of Nebraska head men’s gymnastics coach Francis Allen has announced that he will retire effective July 1, 2009. Allen has guided the Cornhuskers to eight national team championships and is an icon in the sport, not only for his accomplishments at Nebraska, but also on the national and international levels.
                                        
Allen retires after 40 seasons as the Huskers’ head coach, making him the longest tenured head coach in Nebraska history. His eight NCAA titles are also the most of any head coach in the history of Cornhusker athletics, and second among all men’s gymnastics coaches in NCAA history. The 66-year old Allen was the youngest head coach nationally in men’s gymnastics upon his hiring in 1969, and retires as the oldest coach in the nation.

The Lincoln native decided the time was right for him to step aside after a legendary coaching career.

“It has been a dream ride for a Nebraska boy and a Lincoln High graduate,“ Allen said. “I couldn’t have imagined coming here out of high school that I would have the opportunity to work with conference champions, national champions and Olympians. There has been a lot of ups and down, but it has all been worth it. I think it is time to turn it over to a younger guy. I have old ways and I am set in those ways, and I am used to dealing with kids from a little different generation.“

Allen said his greatest satisfaction is watching the gymnasts he has worked with develop, both in and outside of the gym.

“Coaches are like teachers,” Allen said. “Any time one of your students does well, it gives you that instant feedback and gratification. That is the ultimate high.”

Nebraska Athletic Director Tom Osborne saluted the effort of Allen and his leadership of the Cornhusker gymnastics program. Osborne’s association with Allen began during Allen’s time as a Cornhusker athlete, while Osborne was a football graduate assistant.

“I have watched his career as an athlete and a coach for a long time and have great admiration for his accomplishments,” Osborne said. “The string of national championships and outstanding teams our program has had under Francis’ leadership is unprecedented.

“He has raised gymnastics at the University of Nebraska to a level that very few schools have accomplished. We appreciate his contributions to this athletic department and wish him well in his retirement.”

Osborne said Allen will assist with the transition in the men’s gymnastics program over the next three months.

Allen’s Nebraska teams captured NCAA titles for five straight seasons from 1979 to 1983. The Huskers added titles in 1988, 1990 and most recently 1994. In addition to the eight NCAA crowns, Allen’s teams also earned seven national runner-up finishes. In fact, in a 17-year stretch from 1979 to 1995, Nebraska finished either first or second at the NCAA meet 15 times. Including the 2009 season, the Huskers have competed in 25 of the last 31 NCAA Championships, advancing to the finals 16 times.

Individually, Allen’s athletes have earned 172 All-America awards, and a total of 41 gymnasts have earned individual event titles, seven of which came in the all-around from such internationally known competitors as current NU assistant coach Jim Hartung (1980 and 1981), Wes Suter (1985), Tom Schlesinger (1987), Patrick Kirksey (1989), Dennis Harrison (1994), Richard Grace (1995), and Jason Hardabura (1999).  Hartung (1982), Suter (1986) and Schlesinger (1987) were also awarded the Nissen-Emery Award, given annually to the nation’s top senior gymnast. Allen’s gymnasts earned 15 Academic All-America awards.

Allen’s triumphs have not been limited to the collegiate scene.  Nine of Allen’s former gymnasts have gone on to Olympic competition a total of 11 times.  In fact, Allen himself has had the honor of being selected as head coach of the Olympic team not once, but twice, the first of which came in 1980 in Moscow and again in 1992 in Barcelona, Spain.  The 1980 team did not compete in the Olympics due to the United States boycott.

During the 1992 games, Allen coached former Nebraska gymnast Trent Dimas to a gold medal with a 9.875 on the high bar.  Dimas was the first U.S. gymnast to win a gold medal at a non-boycotted Olympic Games in 60 years. Allen also had several gymnasts who were members of the 1984 U.S. Olympic gold medal winning men’s team.

Before taking over as coach at Nebraska in 1969, Allen was a top gymnast for the Huskers. Allen began his long association with NU in 1962, while competing for Hall of Fame head coach Jake Geier.  Allen and former Nebraska assistant coach Jim Howard led the Huskers to back-to-back conference titles in 1963 and 1964, before going on to co-captain the 1965 squad.

Allen was a national gymnastics all-around finalist from 1962 to 1964, finishing as high as fourth in 1964.  He also took first place on the parallel bars at the Big Eight Championships the same year.  Upon graduation, Allen immediately began his coaching career as an assistant until Geier’s retirement in 1969, at which time Allen took over head coaching duties.  Since 1950, Allen and Geier have been the only two head coaches at Nebraska.

Allen’s Accomplishments

• 40 seasons as Nebraska head coach
• 201-131-3 career record
• Two-time U.S. Olympic Coach (1980, 1992)
• Three-time NCAA National Coach of the Year (1979, 1980, 1981)
• Eight-time National Coach of the Year (1979-83,1988, 1990, 1994)
• Seven-time Regional Coach of the Year (1977, 1979, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1996 and 1999)
• USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame Member
• College Gymnastics Association Honor Coach Award
• Eight NCAA Team Championships
• Seven NCAA Team Runner-up Finishes
• 14 Conference Championships
• Nine U.S. Olympians
• Three Nissen Award Winners
• 41 Individual NCAA Champions
• 172 All-America Awards
• 15 Academic All-America Awards
• College Gymnastics Association President (2000-2008)
• MPSF 15th Anniversary Team Co-Head Coach