Sarah Jean Marshall, a former national Gymnast of the Year as a competitor at Seattle Pacific, was promoted to the Falcons head coaching position on May 14, 2019.
Marshall served as an assistant coach on the SPU staff since 2010, helping gymnasts collect 10 individual national championships. The Falcons qualified as a team for the USA Gymnastics nationals eight straight times during that span, including a trio of third-place finishes.
“I am excited to announce that Sarah Marshall will be the next head coach of Seattle Pacific University gymnastics. It was clear throughout the process that Sarah has the respect of her coaching peers, the gymnastics community, the alumnae of SPU Gymnastics and our current student-athletes," said Stava.
"Even more exciting however was her ability to articulate how this program aligns with the mission of our university and department. Sarah will make great impact in this role.”
An eight-time All-American and three-year team captain, Marshall’s scores still rank among the best all-time at SPU. Her career-best all-around mark of 39.100, established in 2007, is the 11th-highest score in school history. That included a floor exercise score of 9.900 that ranks No. 4 among all-time SPU performers in that event.
Marshall received the 2007 NCAA Division II Gymnast of the Year award after leading the Falcons to a second-place national finish at the USAG Collegiate Championships contested Brougham Pavilion. She captured the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation balance beam championship that same season.
In 2006, she placed third in the all-around at the national championship meet.
An NCAA post-graduate scholarship recipient, Marshall was a three-time USAG Scholar-Athlete and all-conference academic honoree.
A product of Sprague High School in Salem, Oregon, Marshall graduated from Seattle Pacific in 2007 with a degree in visual communications design. Prior to joining the SPU coaching staff, she spent two years in New Orleans working with Teach for America. She returned to Seattle and received her Masters of Education in Intercollegiate Athletic Leadership from the University of Washington in June of 2010.
"It is the greatest honor to be named as the next head coach of SPU Gymnastics. I am excited to lead and mentor a group of young women to reach their highest potential as students, athletes, and most of all as people," said Marshall. "Together we will strive for excellence, seek out opportunities for growth, commit ourselves to our vision and live a life of meaning and grace.
"I am incredibly grateful to President Martin, Vice President Jordan and Athletic Director Stava for supporting me in this new role and look forward with enthusiasm to build upon the legacy of SPU Gymnastics."
She is married to Jack Marshall and they have two sons, Charlie and Sammy.
Marshall takes over a perennial championship-contending program. The Falcons participated in 35 of the last 38 USA Gymnastics meets, winning national titles in 1986, 1992 and 1997.
Marshall is just the third coach in the history of the school's gymnastics program, succeeding Laurel Tindall who retired after 44 successful seasons at the helm.