March 21, 2009

RALEIGH, N.C. - University of Maryland gymnastics head coach Bob Nelligan has been named 2009 East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) Coach of the Year, the league announced Saturday during the festivities surrounding its championship meet at NC State's Reynolds Coliseum.

Nelligan, who earned his 492nd and 493rd career victories during Saturday's EAGL Championships, has guided Maryland to a 15-14 record this season - the 19th winning season of his storied 31-year tenure. During the 2009 season, Nelligan led the Terrapins to their first top-25 national ranking since 2005, as well as their best team score (195.100) in nearly four years. Maryland's overall score of 194.525 in the 2009 EAGL Championships also represents the team's best in the annual league meet since 2005.

For Nelligan, the award marks the second such nomination of his career. The longtime leader of the Terrapins also garnered EAGL Coach of the Year honors in 1999 and went on to be named Southeast Region Coach of the Year that season after posting a career-best 29 victories. The 1999 campaign was one of 18 seasons in which Nelligan has led the Terps to NCAA regional championship appearances.

Nelligan, the face of Maryland gymnastics since 1979, has expressed his intentions to retire following the conclusion of the 2009 season. His son, associate head coach Brett Nelligan, will subsequently assume head coaching duties. His daughter, Kelsey Nelligan, currently is a senior on Maryland's squad.

Affectionately referred to as `Duke', Nelligan has garnered the respect of his colleagues at Maryland and nationwide, and he is recognized as one of the top gymnastics coaches in the country. Nelligan has developed a reputation for his caring, passionate nature and his devotion to the sport of gymnastics. He commenced his career in College Park at age 28, and currently represents the longest-tenured head coach at Maryland.

In addition to their many accomplishments in the gym, the Terps have performed exceptionally in the classroom under Nelligan. The Maryland gymnastics squad has won the President's Cup Team GPA Award the previous four seasons.

With the 2009 EAGL Championships behind them, Nelligan and the Terrapins await word to find out whether the team or individual gymnasts have qualified to compete in the National Collegiate Women's Gymnastics Regional Championships. Regional competition takes places April 4 at six locations - Columbus, Ohio; Iowa City, Iowa; Tuscaloosa, Ala.; Fayetteville, Ark.; Raleigh, N.C. and Seattle, Wash.