Longtime Nebraska gym coach Allen retiring

Associated PressLINCOLN, Neb. -- Francis Allen, who coached two U.S. Olympic teams and won eight NCAA men's gymnastics championships in 40 years at Nebraska, announced his retirement Thursday, saying the Cornhuskers' program needs new leadership.
The 66-year-old Allen was the youngest college gymnastics coach in the nation when he was hired in 1969, and he'll leave July 1 as the oldest.
He was the Olympic coach in 1980, when the Americans boycotted the Moscow Games, and again in 1992 in Barcelona.
His eight national championships rank second in NCAA men's gymnastics history behind the nine won by Penn State's Gene Wettstone.
"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," USA Gymnastics president Steve Penny said. "His legacy is well-secured within USA Gymnastics and the history of this sport. He's been a leader, a pioneer and someone who cared deeply about the development of gymnastics."
Athletic director Tom Osborne said Thursday that Allen would help search for a new coach.
Born in Cleveland, Allen grew up in Lincoln and competed for Jack Geier, the only other gymnastics coach Nebraska has had since 1950.
"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," Allen said. "There has been a lot of ups and down, but it has all been worth it."
Allen said it's time to turn the program over to a younger coach.
"I have old ways and I am set in those ways," he said, "and I am used to dealing with kids from a little different generation."
Nebraska captured NCAA titles for five straight seasons, from 1979 to 1983. The Huskers also won team championships in 1988, 1990 and 1994.
The early '80s marked squads were led by Jim Hartung, Scott Johnson and Phil Cahoy, all of whom competed on the gold medal-winning 1984 Olympic team.
"Throughout the '80s he had a number of guys who were always competing for the highest possible opportunity internationally," said Oklahoma coach Mark Williams, who competed for Allen at Nebraska from 1977-80. "We had almost a dynasty in the early '80s, specifically with those three guys."
Allen's teams also earned seven national runner-up finishes. From 1979-95, 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.
Williams, who has won five national titles at Oklahoma, said Allen has never been hesitant to offer advice, even to his opponents.
"He once told my wife that he figured the wins I had were at least partly his, too, since he developed me," Williams said. "He could look at it that way, even when some of my teams started beating his. He's a legend. I hate to see him not be out there day-to-day with gymnasts."
Allen's athletes have earned 172 All-America awards, and 41 gymnasts have earned individual event titles. Seven of those individual titles came in the all-around from internationally known competitors like Hartung (1980-81), 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.
During the 1992 Olympics, 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.
Williams said Allen often expressed frustration with the politics that come with coaching gymnastics at the international level.
"He found a lot more pleasure working with his team and his guys with the goals they had in mind for Nebraska," Williams said.
Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press
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