From the Coach
Greetings! Welcome to the official ASU Men’s Gymnastics Team Web Site. We hope you will enjoy what you experience here and will learn a little more about who we are and what our mission is. We also hope you can take something with you when you leave. In any case, our team is much bigger than the few who work out daily in the gym. It consists of everyone who gives (a little or a lot) to helping Keep Dreams Alive. If you can join our team in any way, we would truly be honored.
~Coach Scott Barclay
A Little Team History
The ASU Men’s Gymnastics Team was founded in 1955, when Norris Steverson was appointed ASU’s gymnastics club coach. In 1968, the club was elevated to intercollegiate status, where Steverson remained the head coach for over a decade. Under his direction, the team realized much success. At their first showing at the NCAA Championship in 1962, they finished 17th in the nation. In all, Steverson coached 15 conference gymnastics individual champions during his coaching career.
In 1968, the head coach position was turned over to “Coach” Don Robinson, who led the team for the next 25 years. Like Steverson, Robinson assisted the team in performing to their full potential. In 1974, ASU Men’s Gymnastics captured their first of five consecutive WAC Championships. In addition, the team took second at the NCAA Championships. For the next decade, ASU consistently placed in the top ten at the NCAA Championships.
In April of 1977 teams from around the country gathered in the then-named University Activity Center for the NCAA Championship Competition marking the first NCAA Gymnastics Championship ever held on the ASU campus. The Sun Devils placed 7th among fierce competition.
Among Coach Robinson’s top pupils in the 1970’s were L.J. Larson, Kent Brown, Gary Alexander and current ASU Sun Devil Gymnastics head coach, Scott Barclay. All won All-America honors on multiple events. The 1980’s brought much success to the team, culminating in the 1986 National Championships where ASU took the crown. Dan and Dennis Hayden, ASU’s gymnastics twins, were instrumental to the success of the 1980’s, as well as Jerry Burrell, John Sweeney, Paul Linne, Brad Rot, and Jody Newman. Linne became the first ASU gymnast to record a perfect “10″ score after his high bar routine at the 1987 Southwest Cup.
In all, Coach Don Robinson guided the Sun Devils to 13 top NCAA finishes, six conference titles, and directed 36 conference and eight NCAA champion gymnasts. The success of the program can largely be attributed to the guidance and foundation laid by Coach Robinson.
Robinson’s career came to an abrupt end in 1993, when the program was dropped from NCAA status. The team was then registered as a club sport team under the Recreation Department. Scott Barclay, then assistant coach, took over the reigns and fought to keep the tradition of excellence in Sun Devil Men’s Gymnastics. Although at times an uphill battle, the existence of the 2000 National Championships, hosted by the ASU Sun Devil Club team, is proof of persistence and success. The team participates in multiple fund-raising events, and relies heavily on its booster club as well as individual sponsorship to keep it alive. Head Coach Scott Barclay continues to lead the team in the ever-present quest for excellence. The loss of NCAA status has not dampened any spirits, nor ended the success of the team. In 1994, 1998, 1999 and 2000 the team has won the USA National Collegiate Championship team title. Many fine athletes from around the country continue to arrive each year at ASU, all with as much dedication, commitment, and talent as NCAA ranked teams.
The team would like to thank all booster members, fans, and volunteers for their support at continuing the tradition started in 1955. Without all its contributors, this team would not exist.
Please become a team booster!