July 26, 2001

The University of Missouri gymnastics team announces the hiring of Paul Scardina as the new assistant women's gymnastics coach. Scardina replaces assistant Marshall Nelson who leaves MU to pursue other interests.

"We feel Paul will be a great addition to your program," MU Head Coach Rob Drass said. "Paul brings 10-years of coaching experience to the table. He is a proven recruiter and has coached teams that have finished in the top three in the country. I think with his help we can get things headed in the right direction here at Missouri," he added.

Prior to his Mizzou appointment, Scardina served as an assistant coach at Michigan during the 2001 season. He helped lead the Wolverines to a third-place finish at the NCAA Championships and coached Elise Ray to All-American honors.

Scardina served a two-year stint as an assistant coach at the University of Pittsburgh. While at Pitt, he was named NCAA Region V co-Assistant Coach of the Year after his first season in 1999.

Previous to his position at Pittsburgh, Scardina assisted at Yale University from 1997-98. His shift at Yale was highlighted by an Eastern Athletic Conference Assistant Coach of the Year accolade in 1998.

Adding to his seasoned coaching history, Scardina brings four years of head coaching experience to the Mizzou program. He directed the Wisconsin-Oshkosh women's gymnastics program from 1993-96. He was honored as the National Collegiate Coaches Association Division III Coach of the Year in 1996.

The Arlington Heights, Ill., native earned a bachelor's degree in exercise and sports science from Wisconsin-Oshkosh in 1995.

"I think one of the main reasons MU struck me as a place I would like to coach is seeing what is currently being done department wide," Scardina said. "The support of the entire athletic department is behind every program and that commitment makes it a great time to be part of the program. I am extremely excited to work with Rob and Kira in helping bring the team to the national level. With that desire, I think it is an exciting time to be part of MU athletics."