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Show RED ROCKS COACHES READY FOR THE FUTURE FROM RED TO BLUE BY RYAN MILLER /ASST SPORTS EDITOR hen talking about the future of the Utah gymnastics program following her husband's retirement, Red Rocks co-head coach Megan Marsden slipped up. "Greg and I — wait —Tom and I are confident we are going to be able to carry on the high standards': she said. Sometimes old habits die hard. A new era in Utah gymnastics history began on Tuesday when Greg Marsden stepped down. But just like the habit of referring to her husband as a leader on the team, don't expect the trends set by the father of the program to disappear. The Utes kept things in house, with Megan Marsden remaining in her current position and five-year Utah assistant Tom Farden being promoted to co-head coach. The two have worked under and beside Greg Marsden, but they have had their share of success themselves. As a gymnast or coach, Megan Marsden has been involved with all 10 of Utah's national championships, and now people might start to realize just how much she has done. After an illustrious competitive career with the Utes, where she won three NCAA individual championships, including two all-around titles, she transitioned to being an assistant coach under her husband. For the last 35 years, Megan Marsden has been primarily responsible to train the Utah beamers, and the results speak for themselves. She is the only coach who can claim backto-back beam champions, Missy Marlowe in 1991-92 and Summer Reid in 1996-97. Marsden also has three other beam titles to her coaching credit, Theresa Kulikowski in 1999 and 2001, and Ashley Poste!! in 2007. She is a proven coach, but she was often overshadowed by her husband. "This has been a partnership for 35 years. She has never gotten the credit she deserved — hopefully now she will," Greg Marsden said. "I could not have done this without her. This has been a partnership." Megan Marsden now has a new partner. Five years ago, as Farden was getting off a plane, he noticed he had a voicemail from Greg Marsden, asking if he would be interested in coming to work at Utah. "Legendary program, unbelievable support, unbelievable results, in a beautiful state — sign me up, let's go," Farden thought. He quickly called his wife and asked, "Hey, want to move to Utah?" Megan Marsden said she and Greg rapidly realized that Farden would be the one to lead W the program after they were gone, and Greg started leaving little hints. Greg Marsden would often tease Farden, saying, "Hey, maybe one day you'll be the one running this program" The now-retired coach did this to prepare people for what was coming, and Farden picked up on that and started prepping for a bigger role. "For the past couple of years I have been preparing myself for a leadership role with Megan, and lead this team to great heights': Farden said. For a year now, Farden has known he would be taking over as co-head coach, and because of that he used the 2015 season to study what Greg Marsden did. "Just watching what he did every day, watching his timing on things and watching how things go, from an administrative standpoint and from a coach's standpoint, with all the attention that I could," Farden said. "It was my last opportunity to spend time with a brilliant gymnastics coach:" During the 2015 season, Greg Marsden often took a step back in practice and allowed his wife and Farden to take over. This was done to help them prepare for life without him — something Megan Marsden has never known. For 35 years she has come to work each day with her husband, and while some have always questioned how she has been able to do it, she's not sure if she's going to enjoy him staying behind. "I guess I'm ready to find out': she said. "I'm not sure I'm going to love that, but what I do know ... is [a feeling] of excitement as we move forward in the future of Utah gymnastics:' One of the reasons for her excitement is her new co-head coach. Farden helped Utah win its first individual national championship since 2007 when Georgia Dabritz took home the uneven bars NCAA title last Sunday. "It was overdue, because Georgia Dabritz has been unbelievable over her four years here on the uneven bars, as we all know': Farden said. "She finally got the appreciation and the scores and the championship that she deserved — she is one of the most unique and incredible bar performers that this country has ever seen in the NCAA." While the individual championship is nice, BY KIM BRENNEISEN /STAFF WRITER hile most Utah football players would never be caught dead sporting any sort of BYU apparel now, a few grew up as fans of the Utah rival. Quarterback Chase Hansen recently came back from serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and said plenty of people were telling him they were happy to have him at BYU. "I got back and everyone was telling me where I was going, and it was weird," Hansen said. "It seems like the common thing. You play football, you go on a mission, and all of a sudden you're going to the Y" Hansen assumed people were saying this because of his family history, since his dad and uncles previously played for the team down south. "My whole family was BYU': Hansen said. "You could say I'm the black sheep, but that'll change. My grandpa and dad love it up here [now]:' Hansen once was a big fan of the rival, but he said the coaching staff, the Pac-12 and the opportunity to play on a big stage with a great team changed his mind. "One day I came to the light, and things clicked," Hansen said. "This is the best place for me:' Jason Whittingham lived in Provo for 10 years and grew up watching the Cougars because, like Hansen, he had relatives who played for them. After home has not been affected by his commitment to Utah. realizing Utah was the place to be, Whittingham claims he's much better off now and has "his "My family was pretty die-hard BYU;' Santiago said. "[But] they're supportive, and they love me" head on straight" at the U. Before Santiago went to serve an LDS mission, he said he visited the Utah campus where he With the family connection and the fact that BYU did not recruit Whittingham, it was a nomet with Kyle Whittingham, who said he could walk on to the Utes if he wanted to once he got brainer to become a Ute. back. The coaching staff and the program itself is part of what enticed Santiago. "Even if BYU had talked to me, I don't think it would have made a huge difference. Just knowDuring the 2008 Sugar Bowl where Utah beat Alabama, Santiago can distinctly remember ing my uncle [head coach Kyle Whittingham] was up here [at the U] and how good of a coach turning to his dad and saying he would love to play for a school like that. he is and how better of a person he is': Jason Whittingham said. "My dad kind of rolled his eyes because we were BYU fans': Santiago said. "It's been a great Another player with Utah County ties is Pita Taumoepenu, who originally grew up in Tonga but experience and a true blessing that I actually ended up here and I've loved it." moved to Provo his senior year in high school. Since he had only been in Utah for such a short k.brenneisen@chronicle.utah.edu @kbrenneisen amount of time, Taumoepenu bled blue for a while. "All I knew was BYU football,"Taumoepenu said. "I didn't even know Utah or anything OPEN LATE else. I thought BYU was pretty cool back then because I was living in Provo." TM DURING FINALS Aside from Utah being in a Power 5 conference, the sense of family within the pro221 South 1300 East 801-582-5001 gram is really what won Taumoepenu over. "My first day over here made a difference':Taumoepenu said. "I never took an official visit over here. I just showed up, and people were around me, and it just feels like family. This is home for me, and it made me want to stay here:" Evan Moeai agrees with Taumoepenu and said after his visit, he knew this was where he wanted to finish his college career. "When I came for my trip they made it feel like it was a family' Moeai said. "The family atmosphere definitely contributed, and I loved the coaching staff:' Moeai played at Snow College before coming to Utah, and after growing up in Provo said that although his family was never against the Utes, they still had a hard time trading in their colors. But for Moeai, it was the right call to rock the crimson and white. "I grew up a BYU fan': Moeai said. "Things couldn't have worked out better. I'm happy • Turkey Breast • Tuna to be here. It's been a little bit of a transition for my family, but I love being here, and • Black Forest Ham • Meatball Marinara I'm definitely converted" • Italian B.M.T • Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyaki Andrew Santiago, wide receiver for the Utes, also had parents who had to exchange their blue for red when he committed to the U. Santiago's father was a place kicker in See inside restaurant for details. Additional charge for extras. Plus applicable taxes. May not be combined with the '80s for the Cougars, and his uncle is the associate athletic director in Provo. other offers, coupons or discount cards. All chip related trademarks are owned by Frito-Lay North America, Inc. 02014 Doctor'sAssociates Inc. SUBWAY. is a registered trademark of DoctoesAssociates Inc. Despite the intense rivalry between the two schools, Santiago said his support from W the Utes just missed out on fulfilling a promise made by Farden when he got to Utah. When he first arrived in Salt Lake he told Greg Marsden he came to help him win another championship, and on Saturday he was .05 short of making that come true. During Tuesday's press conference Farden turned to Greg and said, "You know what, boss, for 43 seconds we were the national champions — until [Florida's] last bar routine — I just want you to know that I did help you:' If there is anybody out there questioning Farden's ability, the Utes' NCAA championship performance should silence them. In the Super Six, Utah scored a 49.575 on bars, Farden's primary responsibility, and that score marked Utah's highest scored set of the championship meet. Farden has also been the team's primary recruiter the last few seasons, and considering the Utes had four freshmen (Kari Lee, Tiffani Lewis, Samantha Partyka and Maddy Stover) all contribute in the Super Six, he's done a pretty fine job in that department. That group of freshmen is another reason Megan Marsden is excited for the future. "I think about what's coming up next," Megan Marsden said. "I watched our freshmen over the weekend, who were a big part of our success, and they are all around for 4 { THECHRONY I NEWS I OPINION I ARTS I SPORTS 'THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2015 } another three years. But when talking about the future of the program ... I think what will make it best for Greg as he moves on into retirement is to watch this program continue to soar, and I feel strongly that we will move forward loud and proud, as Utah gymnastics has always been." As for the two coaches' roles for next season, Farden said he is going to remain on bars, as well as take over vault. Megan Marsden will stick with the beam, and the two are hoping to bring in an assistant to help with floor and choreography. That assistant, however, won't be Greg Marsden. On Tuesday, he made it clear that he was not going to be in the gym, and will allow his wife and Farden to completely take over. However, the two both say they are going to continue to come to him for help. "I do believe that he physically won't be around, but I am hoping that I can bounce ideas off of him from time to time': Megan Marsden said. "I hope that doesn't go away because we are married, we are going to spend time together, and it's important that I can continue to share my career on some level — hopefully at home, once in a while, we can talk about gymnastics:' r.miller@chronicle.utah.edu @millerjryan ,SIMPLE MENU 6 Six-Inch Meals for $6 Each Every Day 5 |