SEATTLE -- Sarah Jean Marshall, a former national Gymnast of the Year as a competitor at Seattle Pacific, was promoted to the Falcons head coaching position, Athletic Director Jackson Stava announced Tuesday.
 
Marshall served as an assistant coach on the SPU staff since 2010, helping gymnasts collect 11 individual national championships. The Falcons qualified as a team for the USA Gymnastics nationals eight straight times during that span, including a trio of third-place finishes.
 
"I am excited to announce that Sarah Marshall will be the next head coach of Seattle Pacific University gymnastics. It was clear throughout the process that Sarah has the respect of her coaching peers, the gymnastics community, the alumnae of SPU Gymnastics and our current student-athletes," said Stava.
 
"Even more exciting however was her ability to articulate how this program aligns with the mission of our university and department. Sarah will make great impact in this role."
 
Competing under her maiden name, Sullivan, she was a four-year SPU letterwinner from 2004-07 and served as the team captain for three seasons. Marshall excelled on all four events and the all-around, garnering eight All-America certificates.
 
Her scores still rank among Seattle Pacific's all-time best. Marshall's career-high all-around mark of 39.10, established in 2007, is the 11th-highest total in school history. That included a floor exercise score of 9.90 that ranks No. 4 among all-time SPU performers in that event.
 
Marshall received the 2007 NCAA Division II Gymnast of the Year award after leading the Falcons to a second-place national finish at the USA Gymnastics Collegiate Championships contested in Brougham Pavilion. She captured the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation balance beam championship that same season.
 
In 2006, she placed third in the all-around at the national championship meet.
 
An NCAA post-graduate scholarship recipient, Sullivan was a three-time USAGym Scholar-Athlete and all-conference academic honoree.
 
"It is the greatest honor to be named as the next head coach of SPU Gymnastics. I am excited to lead and mentor a group of young women to reach their highest potential as students, athletes, and most of all as people," said Marshall. "Together we will strive for excellence, seek out opportunities for growth, commit ourselves to our vision and live a life of meaning and grace.
 
"I am incredibly grateful to President Martin, Vice President Jordan and Athletic Director Stava for supporting me in this new role and look forward with enthusiasm to build upon the legacy of SPU Gymnastics."
 
A product of Sprague High School in Salem, Oregon, Marshall graduated from Seattle Pacific in 2007 with a degree in visual communications design. She earned a Masters of Education in Intercollegiate Athletic Leadership from the University of Washington in 2010.
 
Prior to joining the Falcons coaching staff as an assistant in 2010, Marshall spent two years in New Orleans, La. working with Teach for America.
 
She is married to Jack Marshall and they have two sons, Charlie and Sammy.
 
Marshall takes over a perennial championship-contending program. The Falcons participated in 35 of the last 38 USA Gymnastics meets, winning national titles in 1986, 1992 and 1997.
 
Marshall is just the third coach in the history of the school's gymnastics program, succeeding Laurel Tindall who retired after 44 successful seasons at the helm.
 
"Replacing Laurel Tindall is no small task, but I know that Sarah is excited to build upon the foundation that has been built while articulating a renewed vision for the future," Stava said. "Her respect of the pedigree of this program as an athlete, assistant coach and now head coach will serve her as she leads us into this next chapter of SPU gymnastics."