Red Rocks coming off third Pac-12 title in four seasons last year
Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune
Co-head coach Megan Marsden observes the Red Rocks as they warm up on the uneven bars in a meet against Oregon State, West Virginia, and SUU at the Huntsman Center, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013. The Red Rocks edged the competition with a final score of 196.950, followed by Oregon State with a score of 195.950.
Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah's Sabrina Schwab is hugged by coach Megan Marsden after she took first place in floor exercise with a score of 9.925. University of Utah No. 6 gymnasts defeated No. 11 Oregon State during their Pac-12 meet in Salt Lake City, January 23, 2016.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
Greg Marsden, Utah gymnastics coach for the past 40 years, gets emotional as he comments on his retirement, with his wife, Megan, at his side, at a news conference at the Huntsman Center, Tuesday, April 21, 2015.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah's Samantha Partyka celebrates with teammates after her floor routine as the University of Utah hosts Arizona, NCAA gymnastics at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Monday February 1, 2016. Coach Megan Marsden at right.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
Barely Rowe gets a hug from coach Megan Marsden after her performance on the bean for the Utes, in gymnastics action, Utah vs UCLA, at the Huntsman Center, Saturday, February 18, 2017.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
Baely Rowe gets a hug from coach Megan Marsden after her performance on the beam for the Utes, in gymnastics action, Utah vs UCLA, at the Huntsman Center, Saturday, February 18, 2017.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah head coach Megan Marsden congratulates Breanna Hughes after beam routine, in the NCAA Regional Championships, Hughes won the all around honor in tonights meet at the Huntsman Center, Saturday, April 2, 2016.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah head coach Megan Marsden congratulates Samantha Partyka after her balance beam routine, in the NCAA Regional Championships, at the Huntsman Center, Saturday, April 2, 2016.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
Greg Marsden, Utah gymnastics coach for the past 40 years, comments on his retirement, with his wife Megan at his side, at a news conference at the Huntsman Center, Tuesday, April 21, 2015.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah coach Megan Marsden looks on as a gymnast warms up, as the University of Utah hosts Arizona, NCAA gymnastics at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Monday February 1, 2016.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
Megan Marsden talks about her new position as a co-gymnastics coach with Tom Farden, at a news conference at the Huntsman Center, Tuesday, April 21, 2015.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah head coach Megan Marsden congratulates Samantha Partyka after her balance beam routine, in the NCAA Regional Championships, at the Huntsman Center, Saturday, April 2, 2016.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah head coach Megan Marsden congratulates Maddy Stover after her balance beam routine, in the NCAA Regional Championships, at the Huntsman Center, Saturday, April 2, 2016.
(Rick Egan | Tribune file photo) Tom Farden talks about his position as a co-gymnastics coach with Megan Marsden, at a news conference at the Huntsman Center, Tuesday, April 21, 2015.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
Megan Marsden reacts as MyKayla Skinner finishes her bars routine, for the Utes, in gymnastics action, Utah vs UCLA, at the Huntsman Center, Saturday, February 18, 2017.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah coach Megan Marsden looks on as a gymnast warms up, as the University of Utah hosts Arizona, NCAA gymnastics at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Monday February 1, 2016.
(Rick Egan | Tribune file photo) Megan Marsden talks about her new position as a co-gymnastics coach with Tom Farden, at a news conference at the Huntsman Center, Tuesday, April 21, 2015.
Courtesy | Utah Athletes
Megan Marsden.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
Co-Head Coach Tom Farden helps Utah gymnast MaKenna Merrell performs her floor routine during the Red Rocks Preview at the Huntsman Center Friday December 11, 2015.
Steve Griffin | Tribune file photo
University of Utah assistant coach Tom Farden works with gymnasts during practice at the Utah gymnastics practice facility on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City Friday March 30, 2012.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
Co-Head Coach Tom Farden helps Utah gymnast Sabrina Schwab performs her floor routine during the Red Rocks Preview at the Huntsman Center Friday December 11, 2015.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
Co-Head Coach Tom Farden helps Utah gymnast Shannon McNatt performs her floor routine during the Red Rocks Preview at the Huntsman Center Friday December 11, 2015.
Courtesy | Utah Athletes
Tom Farden.
Utah is keeping the faces of the Red Rocks around for a while.
Utah athletic director Chris Hill announced Wednesday morning that gymnastic co-coaches Tom Farden and Megan Marsden both have signed five-year contract extensions through 2022. Farden and Marsden, who enter their third season as co-coaches at Utah, won their first Pac-12 Championship last season. It was Utah’s third Pac-12 crown in the last four years.
The Red Rocks finished 2017 fifth in the country after an NCAA Super Six appearance.
“We are privileged to have two of the finest gymnastics coaches in the country in Tom Farden and Megan Marsden, and this contract extension signifies their commitment to the future success of Utah gymnastics,” Hill said in a release. “Tom is a rising star in the gymnastics coaching world, and Megan’s reputation is well established. They make a great team.”
Both Farden and Marsden helped construct a powerhouse at Utah before assuming their respective roles as co-coaches. Marsden was co-coach with the program’s founder, Greg Marsden, for six years. This upcoming season will be Farden’s eighth on staff.
Marsden, one of the school’s most-decorated gymnasts, is in her 34th year as part of the Utah coaching staff.
“Megan and I are grateful to Dr. Hill for his faith in us,” Farden said in the release. “With the unrivaled resources, fan base and tradition of success at Utah, we think this is the best coaching job in the country. Our goal is to continue to compete for championships and maintain our position among the nation’s elite gymnastics programs year in and year out.”
Utah’s ongoing national-record streak of consecutive national championship appearances currently sits at 42 years.
