Release via NC State Athletics

RALEIGH – NC State gymnastics head coach Mark Stevenson will be retiring from his duties, the five-time East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) Coach of the Year announced on Thursday. 
 
The only coach in the history of NC State women's gymnastics, Stevenson built the program from the ground up and completed his 37th season this spring. He led his squads to 27 postseason appearances and earned five NCAA Regional Coach of the Year honors (1993, 1994, 2000, 2008, 2012). 
 
The Wolfpack won six conference championships under Stevenson, including an ACC title in 1984 and EAGL titles in 1999, 2000, 2007, 2009 and 2013. He is a five-time EAGL Coach of the Year honoree (1998, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2012).  NC State hosted the 2017 EAGL Gymnastics Championships in renovated Reynolds Coliseum in March. 
 
"Coach Stevenson built an enduring legacy for NC State and its gymnastics program, and we appreciate all of his contributions over a remarkable 37-year career," said Director of Athletics Debbie Yow. "His student-athletes also excelled in the classroom and in the community and have been terrific representatives of Wolfpack athletics. We wish Mark well in the next chapter of his life, and offer our gratitude for his impact to the University community." 
 
Throughout his career, he has coached 76 First Team All-EAGL selections, four EAGL Rookie of the Year winners, three EAGL Scholar-Athletes of the Year, and two EAGL Gymnasts of the Year. He also guided Brittni Watkins (2014, 2015) and Taylor Seaman (2010) to All-America honors and has had 10 student-athletes earn Academic All-American accolades and two receive ACC postgraduate scholarships. 
 
Since 1984, 107 gymnasts have been named to the ACC's academic honor roll 197 times, while 118 have earned spots on the EAGL All-Academic Team, including an EAGL best 16 in 2009. In 2004, NC State added a new award to its trophy case, as Marlyn Madey was named the EAGL Scholar Athlete of the Year. Ashley Shepard won the honor in 2009 to cap off her career. 
 
"For the past 37 years Wolfpack Gymnastics has been my life and my family," said Stevenson. "I would like to send a special thank you to all of the people who have supported myself and the program, you are the greatest!  I am extremely proud of what I have accomplished in bringing the program to what it is today.  A special thank you to all of the past and current athletes who I have loved working with and watching you grow and become the wonderful women you are today. It's impossible to forget the fantastic coaches that I have worked side by side with and the impact all of you had on the team and on myself...I am forever grateful. Thank you to all the fans for your support over the years and I look forward to the program's continued success in the future."
 
Prior to coming to NC State in 1980 as an assistant coach for the men's gymnastics team, Stevenson served as an assistant coach at the University of Massachusetts for one season. The Minutemen compiled an 11-3 record and produced one All-American during his tenure. 
 
Stevenson graduated from Iowa in 1978 with a B.S. degree in recreational education. At Iowa, he served as a team captain during his senior season. At the Big Ten Conference Championships in 1978, he placed second in the vault and qualified for the NCAA Championships, where he scored a 9.45. In 1984, Stevenson earned his master's degree in recreational resources administration from NC State. 
 
Stevenson will host 2017 Wolfpack Gymnastics Camps this summer at Carmichael Gymnasium on NC State's campus.