COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Longtime University of Maryland gymnastics coach Bob Nelligan, who is retiring June 1 after 31 years guiding the program, is featured in an article published in Thursday's edition of the Baltimore Sun. To read the online version of that article, please click the following link: Nelligan makes happy landing into retirement.

Nelligan garnered East Atlantic Gymnastics League Coach of the Year honors following the conclusion of the 2009 season, which saw his squad secure a berth in the National Collegiate Women's Gymnastics Regional Championships. During the recently-completed season, Nelligan and his staff of associate head coach Brett Nelligan and assistant coach Vicki Chliszczyk 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.

Nelligan, the face of Maryland gymnastics since 1979, finishes his remarkable career with 493 victories, 19 winning regular seasons and 19 regional appearances. He is being replaced by his son, Brett Nelligan, who also has served as the team's recruiting coordinator the past three years. Bob Nelligan's daughter, Kelsey Nelligan, was the lone senior on the 2009 gymnastics 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.

Nelligan 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. His teams have performed exceptionally in the classroom as well. The Maryland gymnastics squad has won the President's Cup Team GPA Award nine times during the 12-year existence of the award, including the previous four seasons.