BERKELEY, Calif., Aug. 26, 2010- The most decorated gymnast in University of California history, Tim McNeill, will rejoin the Golden Bear program as its men’s gymnastics coach, Director of Athletics Sandy Barbour announced Wednesday.
McNeill, who graduated from Cal in 2008 as a five-time NCAA champion, spent the 2009 season as a graduate intern with the Bears before training full-time with the U.S. National team this past year.
Aca A We congratulate Tim on his new position and wish him the best of success with the Cal program,Aca A said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. Aca A As a former Cal gymnast, he knows the history of this storied program and his existing relationships within the athletic department and the athletes will be beneficial as he accepts these new responsibilities.”
“Tim was an outstanding competitor for us as a gymnast, and I believe he will bring that same passion to excel as our head men’s gymnastics coach,” Barbour said. “During his competitive career, he has gained experience at the top levels of the sport on the national and international stages, and can offer the expertise our gymnasts need to succeed.”
McNeill, a native of Falls Church, Va., lettered at Cal from 2005-08, earning All-America honors each year. He captured his first NCAA title as a sophomore in 2006 on the pommel horse before claiming the national crown on both the pommel horse and parallel bars in 2007. McNeill then repeated his crown on the two events as a senior in 2008. He received the Pac-10 Medal in ’08 as Cal’s outstanding senior male student-athlete.
“Being the head coach at Cal is absolutely my dream job,” McNeill said. “I could not be more excited to return to the program and the University that have already given me so much. I can’t wait to impact the student-athletes and see what I can do for them and this University.”
McNeill has been a fixture on the U.S. Senior National team since 2006 and boasts an impressive resume on the international stage. Most recently, he won his first international medal in May when he placed third on parallel bars at the Moscow World Cup. Other highlights include competing in the finals of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, winning pommel horse at the 2009 Winter Cup Challenge, and taking home the parallel bars title and finishing second in the all-around at the 2009 Visa Championships. McNeill earned place on the U.S. team for the 2009 World Championship team, where he finished fifth on pommel and seventh in the all-around.
McNeill replaces Barry Weiner, who retired from his position as head coach in June after posting a 19-year record of 266-111-1, which included NCAA championships in 1997 and ’98. He also coached Bears to 14 individual national titles. As an undergraduate under Weiner, McNeill, who earned his degree in psychology, served as team co-captain his junior and senior years.
— Cal Athletics Sports Information Department release