- Jul 19, 2011
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- 17,386
Posted by Scott Barclay on FB. He will be missed!!
Alumni, Friends and Boosters,
Let me just start by saying that, just like so many of you, I love this sport. I started bouncing trampoline and working Pommel horse when I was 14 years old as a sophomore at Oak Park River Forest high school under the awesome coaching of Clarke Shultes. I was fortunate to garner a full ride to ASU to keep doing gymnastics while getting a good education. I was able to spend one year competing for the ministry of Athletes in Action after college. I had the good fortune of making the US team for 3 years in a row and then spent 2 months on one of the first professional gymnastics tours in the country with Kurt Thomas. Then I had the awesome privilege of working as an assistant coach for the next 13 years under one of the greatest men I have known, coach Don Robinson . Gymnastics has challenged me physically, emotionally and spiritually throughout all these years. I am who I am because of both the hard times and good times it has taken me through to get here. I've traveled around the world, met so many great people and developed some really great friendships all because of this sport.
In 1993 when Coach Robinson retired, because of the circumstances with the athletic department I said I would stay on one year and help coach the current team members until they matriculated on or transferred to other schools. That was 32 years ago! Seems like yesterday in many respects. It's also been one of the hardest things in my life I've ever done - keeping this team alive. Right now I have no regrets and can only pray that it will continue on for another 32 years.
I loved my years as a gymnast on this team and what I received out of it. One of the main reasons I've given so much of my life to this endeavor is so that others could have the same opportunity as I did. But looking back it is quite evident to me now that I have received much more than I gave.
So after this summer, I am stepping down from the day-to-day responsibilities of coaching the team. I have always dreaded this time as I felt it would leave someone hanging, but this time had to come. I have so enjoyed coaching this team, 1st as an athlete (‘74- ‘78), then as an assistant coach under Robinson (‘78,’80-’93) and now for the past 32 years leading this team into a new era of collegiate gymnastics that was only a dream. But the team isn't going anywhere except up from here. Evan Shaw will be taking the team as interim head coach and I will still be around helping as the team GM helping make a smooth transition for the next many years to come.
Thanks for all the support so many of you have given this program in so many ways. We have a very strong Board of Directors- mostly all former team members who will be guiding the team into the future. I am sure you will be hearing from us soon on how you can help. We will need your continued support now more than ever!
And in the words of Coach Robinson… Keep Looking UP!! Let’s keep doing it together!
Scott Barclay
Alumni, Friends and Boosters,
Let me just start by saying that, just like so many of you, I love this sport. I started bouncing trampoline and working Pommel horse when I was 14 years old as a sophomore at Oak Park River Forest high school under the awesome coaching of Clarke Shultes. I was fortunate to garner a full ride to ASU to keep doing gymnastics while getting a good education. I was able to spend one year competing for the ministry of Athletes in Action after college. I had the good fortune of making the US team for 3 years in a row and then spent 2 months on one of the first professional gymnastics tours in the country with Kurt Thomas. Then I had the awesome privilege of working as an assistant coach for the next 13 years under one of the greatest men I have known, coach Don Robinson . Gymnastics has challenged me physically, emotionally and spiritually throughout all these years. I am who I am because of both the hard times and good times it has taken me through to get here. I've traveled around the world, met so many great people and developed some really great friendships all because of this sport.
In 1993 when Coach Robinson retired, because of the circumstances with the athletic department I said I would stay on one year and help coach the current team members until they matriculated on or transferred to other schools. That was 32 years ago! Seems like yesterday in many respects. It's also been one of the hardest things in my life I've ever done - keeping this team alive. Right now I have no regrets and can only pray that it will continue on for another 32 years.
I loved my years as a gymnast on this team and what I received out of it. One of the main reasons I've given so much of my life to this endeavor is so that others could have the same opportunity as I did. But looking back it is quite evident to me now that I have received much more than I gave.
So after this summer, I am stepping down from the day-to-day responsibilities of coaching the team. I have always dreaded this time as I felt it would leave someone hanging, but this time had to come. I have so enjoyed coaching this team, 1st as an athlete (‘74- ‘78), then as an assistant coach under Robinson (‘78,’80-’93) and now for the past 32 years leading this team into a new era of collegiate gymnastics that was only a dream. But the team isn't going anywhere except up from here. Evan Shaw will be taking the team as interim head coach and I will still be around helping as the team GM helping make a smooth transition for the next many years to come.
Thanks for all the support so many of you have given this program in so many ways. We have a very strong Board of Directors- mostly all former team members who will be guiding the team into the future. I am sure you will be hearing from us soon on how you can help. We will need your continued support now more than ever!
And in the words of Coach Robinson… Keep Looking UP!! Let’s keep doing it together!
Scott Barclay
