INDIANAPOLIS, July 29, 2014 – USA Gymnastics President Steve Penny today announced that Susan Jacobson has stepped down as the trampoline and tumbling director, a position she has held since 2011. During her three-year tenure, Jacobson oversaw the transition of moving the trampoline and tumbling program from Texas to the USA Gymnastics national office in Indianapolis, increased emphasis on support for elite athletes and the national team, and instituted the Trampoline Development Center Program.
“Susan’s passion and dedication were critical for transitioning the trampoline and tumbling program into a seamless part of the USA Gymnastics organization and structure,” said Penny. “Her leadership and vision had a positive impact on the discipline’s education and elite training regimen, as well as the implementation of the innovative Trampoline Development Centers and raising the program’s profile within USA Gymnastics."
Jacobson managed the transition of relocating the administration of trampoline and tumbling to the national office, and aligned the program structure and governance to be more consistent within USA Gymnastics. She increased the emphasis on support for elite athletes and the national team and oversaw establishing a more regular training regimen, incorporating the organization’s resources throughout. Jacobson worked closely with the USOC on enhancing its contributions to the program and restructured the education program to increase course offerings. Jacobson also instituted the Trampoline Development Center Program, which is designed to incorporate competitive trampoline into the curriculum in gyms across the nation to expand trampoline’s Olympic pipeline.
“It has been a privilege and an honor to work on behalf of USA Gymnastics’ trampoline and tumbling program, helping it begin to reach its full potential,” said Jacobson. “I have enjoyed working with the T&T community and watching the numbers in the program grow, along with the success of our teams. I remain convinced that this is a sport that truly has only the sky as its limit.”
Jacobson will remain on staff through the 2014 World Trampoline and Tumbling Championships in Daytona Beach, Fla. In addition, Ron Jacobson, her husband, will be leaving his position as director of program development at the end of August. He has participated in the development of the program to expand opportunities in men’s high school gymnastics, as well as the administration of Gymnastics for All and extending its programs, and as the liaison with the National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association.