Perfect 10: The UGA GymDogs & the Rise of Women's College Gymnastics in America

The story of the winningest women's college coach in history

Suzanne Yoculan is the winningest coach in the history of American women'ssports and Perfect 10 is the first book on women's college gymnastics, thefastest- growing college sport in terms of popularity.The book chronicles the rise of women's college gymnastics from the time ofthe first NCAA Championships in 1982 to the present. Centered on Yoculan andthe GymDogs, Perfect 10 presents details of this coach's formula forsuccess-extending performance longevity, helping gymnasts with eatingdisorders, team chemistry, gender equity, and promotional savvy. This savvy,combined with Yoculan's dynamic coaching techniques, responsible for raisingthe attendance at a GymDogs' meet from 200 in 1983, when she became headcoach, to 10,000 today-virtually unparalleled at any other college.
The GymDogs are the only women's college gymnastics team to go undefeatedthrough an entire season and they've done it four times. Under Yoculan'sdirection, Georgia gymnasts have earned 267 All-America honors, and Georgiagymnasts have won 29 NCAA individual championships. The GymDogs have placedin the nation's top 3 teams in 18 of the last 20 years.
Yoculan has been at the forefront of every important movement in women'scollege gymnastics-she showed the world that college gymnasts were not "overthe hill" at 18 and could improve every season, she showed other coaches howto successfully battle the problem of anorexia in female gymnasts, sheintroduced Olympic-level skills to a college sport suffering frommediocrity, she initiated the establishment of the first renewable seasonticket program in the nation for a women's college team, and she developedboth a winner's and a fan's code of conduct for college gymnastics meets.Winner of 7 NCAA Championships and 15 SEC Championships, Yoculan has foughthard for Title IX-promoting the rights of women in sport, both players andcoaches alike, and fighting against chauvinism within collegeadministrations-opening the door for women coaches to question the fairnessof their compensation packages.
Perfect 10 is a triple story of success, that of Suzanne Yoculan, theGymDogs, and women's college gymnastics.
Suzanne Yoculan is Head Coach of the University of Georgia GymDogs. For thepast 23 years, she has led the team to unparalled success in women's collegegymnastics. She is a 4-Time NCAA Coach of the Year and a 6-Time SEC Coach ofthe Year.
Bill Donaldson is a former director of scientific research for over 40years at the E.I. DuPont Company and the U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency. He is now a freelance writer covering environmental issues andwomen's college gymnastics.
Mary Lee Tracy is the owner and head coach of Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy,a USA Olympic Coach and a USA Gymnastics Coach of the Year.