Longtime Gymnastics Coach Cook Announces Retirement

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Head gymnastics coach Mark Cook has announced his retirement from the University of Arkansas after 17 years as the program’s coach. Cook recently completed the 2019 season in which he helped lead the Razorbacks to their 16th-consecutive NCAA Regional appearance.

Cook has been a part of Razorback Gymnastics since its infancy, serving as a head coach of the program since coming to Arkansas in May 2001. Arkansas officially began competition in gymnastics in 2003. Alongside co-head coach René Lyst, Cook was instrumental in forming a new program into one that has produced individual national champions and consistently ranks among the best in the SEC and in NCAA competition. Cook has served as the sole head coach of the program since May 2014.

Cook has spent a total of 24 years coaching in collegiate gymnastics, including three seasons as an assistant coach at UCLA and four seasons as the head coach at Stanford University prior to coming to Arkansas.

Statement from Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Hunter Yurachek

“Few coaches have been more integral to the birth and growth of a program than Mark Cook has been for Razorback Gymnastics. Before there was a practice gym, student-athletes or the loyal gymnastics fans that follow our program today, Mark bought into a vision that the University of Arkansas could be home to nationally-competitive gymnastics program. Through his leadership, our program has produced national champions and competed annually in the NCAA Championships. We are grateful for Mark’s many contributions to our program and for his impact on the lives of the student-athletes he has coached at the University of Arkansas. We wish him the very best in his retirement.”

Statement from Mark Cook

