Jay Clark

Jay Clark, the leader of the LSU Gymnastics program, wrapped up his sixth season as the Head Coach of the Tigers in 2026, which culminated in the program’s third trip to the NCAA Championship Final under his tenure and a finish as NCAA National Runner-Up.

A native of Roswell, Georgia, Clark was tabbed as the third head coach in program history in August 2021 following the retirement of former coach D-D Breaux. A 33-year veteran of the sport, he continues to lead the LSU Gymnastics program to new heights in his 15th year overall at LSU.

Clark has made history in just six seasons as head coach, including bringing home the program’s first-ever national title in 2024. The Tigers were named NCAA Champions on April 20, 2024 with their score of 198.225 in the NCAA Championship Finals to defeat California (197.850), Utah (197.800) and Florida (197.4375). LSU became just the eighth program in NCAA history to win the women’s gymnastics championship under the leadership of Clark, the first coach to get it done in LSU history.

He continued to lead LSU to success in 2025 following the program’s national championship. Clark and the Tigers were named the SEC Regular Season Champions for the first time since 2018, claimed their sixth overall SEC Championship and won the NCAA Penn State Regional, marking the program’s 15th regional title. The season marked the second consecutive year that LSU was named SEC and Regional Champions.

The LSU Gymnastics team entered the NCAA postseason as the No. 1 seed for the first time in program history in 2025 after earning their 40th straight regional berth and 42nd overall appearance in the postseason.

In 2026, Clark guided the Tigers to another historic campaign as LSU advanced to the NCAA Championship Final and finished as NCAA National Runner-Up with a score of 198.0750, the second-highest score in an NCAA final in program history. The Final Four appearance marked LSU’s 11th trip to the NCAA Championship Final in program history and third under Clark. As the No. 2 overall seed, the Tigers earned their 41st consecutive NCAA postseason appearance, captured their 16th overall and third consecutive NCAA Regional title in Baton Rouge and posted a school-record regional score of 198.375. Four Tigers combined for 19 All-America honors on the year, capping another successful campaign in program history.

Clark’s efforts go far beyond the competition floor. LSU achieved No. 1 in attendance for the third-straight year in 2026, averaging over 12,000 fans per meet and a total of 61,000+ fans across five home meets. The Tigers went undefeated at home for the third straight year and extended their 19-0 win streak inside the PMAC.

In 2024, Clark was named the SEC Co-Head Coach of the Year after winning the program’s fifth SEC Championship and the Region One Head Coach of the Year after winning the Fayetteville Regional. He was also named the Top Collegiate Coach in Louisiana by the Allstate Sugar Bowl, but his accolades don’t end there.

Clark owns multiple Central Region coaching honors, including National Assistant Coach of the Year in 2006, 2014, 2016 and 2017. He is also a member of the USA Gymnastics Region Eight Hall of Fame.

He is regarded as one of the best recruiters in the sport, as highlighted by ESPNU and ESPN The Magazine when he was named the ninth-best recruiter in college athletics in 2011.

Overall, LSU has earned some of its best performances in school history since Clark’s arrival in 2012, including 11 appearances in the NCAA Championship Finals, 11 individual NCAA Champion gymnasts, six SEC Championships, three SEC Regular Season Champion titles, 10 NCAA regional titles and numerous school records.

As the primary bars coach, LSU has seen 47 All-America honors on bars, the best performance at the NCAA Championships, four of the five highest bars team scores in school history and the two individual NCAA bars champions in LSU history under Clark. He has coached his bars squad to top-10 finishes in the nation 13 times, including the No. 1 spot in 2018.

The Tigers finished the 2026 season ranked No. 3 in the country on Clark’s event after already spending 11 straight weeks in the top three throughout the regular season.

Clark has now reached the postseason in all six years as head coach, highlighted by five appearances in the NCAA Championships and three trips to the NCAA Final. He enters the 2027 season with a record of 129-43-3 in the Purple & Gold and 178-71-5 in his career.

Before Clark joined LSU after he spent 20 seasons at the University of Georgia where he helped guide the Gym Dogs to seven NCAA National Titles and 14 Southeastern Conference Championships.

Clark primarily coached bars at Georgia, and he coached the Gym Dogs to 64 All-America honors and seven NCAA individual national titles on bars, including two-time champions Courtney Kupets and Kat Ding.

From 2009-12, Clark served as the head coach at Georgia, and during that time the Gym Dogs captured three NCAA individual national championships, won the 2012 NCAA Auburn Regional, and produced 23 All-America honors. In 2012, his Georgia team won the Bulldog Cup, which recognizes the UGA team that excels academically, supports their peers in athletics and consistently serves the community.

Prior to his stint as head coach, Clark was the recruiting coordinator at Georgia from 1999-2009 while serving as assistant coach from 1999-2004 and associate head coach from 2005-09 when Georgia won an NCAA record five-straight national titles.

Clark also coached at the club level for 13 years from 1992-2005 as the founder, owner and head coach of Classic City Gymnastics in Athens, Georgia. He coached several Classic City gymnasts to state, regional, national championships and to the Junior Olympic National Team, and eight gymnasts went on to compete at the NCAA Division I level.

Clark has two children – a son, Cole, and a daughter, Kinsey.

The future is brighter than ever as Clark hopes to continue to grow the sport of gymnastics not only in Baton Rouge, but nationally.  

College Coaching Experience
2020-present – Head Coach, LSU
2019-2020 – Co-Head Coach, LSU
2012-2019 – Associate Head Coach, LSU
2009-2012 – Head Coach, Georgia
2005-2009 – Associate Head Coach/Recruiting Coordinator, Georgia
1998-2004 – Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator, Georgia
1990-1996 – Assistant Coach, Georgia