Kuzara joins Gym'Back staff for 2006-07

FAYETTEVILLE — Dave Kuzara became the newest member of the University of Arkansas gymnastics staff, co-head coaches Mark and Rene Cook announced today. Kuzara, formerly of West Virginia, replaces former assistant coach Rose McLaughlin who recently resigned to take the Bar exam. "Dave is great," said co-head coach Rene Cook. "We are so thrilled to have someone with his experience join our program. His knowledge, his contacts, his demeanor and his desire to make this program one of the best in the country will insure that the Gym’Backs will continue to make their mark." "We’re very excited to have Dave join the Gym’Backs," added co-head coach Mark Cook. "Rene and I have known Dave for several years and have a lot of respect for his accomplishments in and out of the gym. I’m excited about what he brings to the table and I’m confident he’ll be a great fit for our program." Kuzara comes to Arkansas with 15 years of collegiate coaching experience and 11 years in the club setting. Most recently he was an assistant at West Virginia helping the Mountaineers to the 2004 EAGL team title and three NCAA Regional appearances. Primarily an uneven bars coach at West Virginia, Kuzara’s bar workers only counted one fall during the entire 2006 season. In addition to his duties in the gym, Kuzara assisted student-athletes in the classroom helping the Mountaineer gymnastics team improve its overall grade point average. In addition, the program posted seven coaches association academic all-scholars in 2005 and had nine in 2006. "I would like to thank West Virginia and coach Linda Burdette for three great years," said Kuzara. "I will miss the team and the friends that I made there and I wish them the very best in the future. That being said, working with Mark and Rene at Arkansas is an opportunity that I could not pass up," he continued. "Arkansas truly offers student-athletes the academic programs as well as the training facilities necessary to compete and win the SEC. The focus and determination of the coaching staff as well as the athletes is an attitude that I share and one I look forward to contributing to. I’m excited to be a part of the Lady Razorback family." Kuzara also has 10 years of head coaching experience at the University of Massachusetts where he worked with Rene Cook who was an assistant coach. His UMass teams won two Atlantic 10 team titles and had four runner-up finishes during his tenure. Kuzara and his partner Natasha Brande along with daughter Izaballe will reside in Fayetteville. Last season, the Gym’Backs closed the book with a fairy tale ending reaching the NCAA Championship for the first time in program history. The Gym’Backs, paced by the program’s first-ever senior class in 2006, excelled in and out of the gym with numerous honors and awards. Arkansas begins a new chapter this year with seniors Cassie Drew and Rachel Barnett leading the team for the 2007 season which begins in January. For more information about the Arkansas gymnastics team, log on to LADYBACKS.COM.