April 25, 2003
Leah Little, who built the Wildcats’ gymnastics program into one of the University of Kentucky’s most popular varsity sports, announced her retirement Friday after 28 seasons.
Little, a two-time Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year, started the program in 1974-75 and is considered by many a pioneer in helping integrate women’s athletics into the collegiate environment.
“As someone who was raised in Lexington and who bleeds blue for this athletics program, this was a very emotional decision for me,” Little said. “But I’ve reached a point in my life where I’m ready for a new challenge, and likewise, I think it’s time this program gets a fresh look.”
The gymnastics program began as a club sport, and as a result of Title IX, a law requiring gender equity in educational offerings, the GymKats reached varsity status in 1980. In the past 23 years, Little’s teams have reached the NCAA Regionals 16 times. Highlights of her career include eight gymnasts advancing to the NCAA Championships, three earning All-America recognition and 77 earning Academic All-SEC awards, including 47 who earned scholastic All-America honors.
“I’ve been here nine months, but one of the first things I learned about Leah was that many identify ‘her’ as UK gymnastics, and there’s no question she has been a fixture around this athletics department for many, many years,” said Mitch Barnhart, UK’s Director of Athletics. “She’s had an outstanding career, a terrific run. She will be difficult to replace but we wish her well in her retirement.”
Little’s crowning achievement was coaching All-American Jenny Hansen to eight national championships during a three-year period from 1993-95, which still ranks as the most individual national titles ever won in women’s collegiate gymnastics. Hansen broke nearly every NCAA record, becoming the first gymnast to capture four event championships in a season, record 25 perfect scores and win three all-around championships.
“Building relationships with student-athletes has to be the first and foremost memory I will have of this gymnastics program,” Little said. “I’ve been blessed with so many highlights in my career there are too many to list. But Jenny’s run was a dream come true. She will always rank as one of the finest student-athletes collegiate gymnastics has ever seen.
“Overall, I’m excited about the direction that Mitch Barnhart is taking this athletics program. There’s a new environment here that emphasizes all sports. I will continue to tailgate, go to basketball games and be involved in this University community. After all, coaching this program has been the best experience of my life and I can’t help but miss it.”
Little is responsible for creating “Excite Nite,” an annual event the past 20 years that serves as the official start to the upcoming season. It’s rivaled on campus only by Big Blue Madness, the first official practice by the men’s basketball team. Yet, each January, Excite Nite helps fill Memorial Coliseum with a themed show and gymnastics event.
As a collegian, the Lexington native competed at Eastern Kentucky where she captured the AIAW regional title and was a national qualifier. She began her coaching career at the Lexington YWCA.
Barnhart has not placed a timetable on naming Little’s replacement.
The Little File
1974 – Started club gymnastics at Kentucky
1978 – Awarded gymnastics scholarships
1980 – Gymnastics named a varsity sport at UK
1981 – First nationally ranked gymnast (Jackie Chatfield)
1983 – First top-20 team ranking
1984 – Started “Excite Nite”
1988 – Named SEC Coach of the Year
1993 – Jenny Hansen wins first of eight NCAA crowns
1996 – Named SEC and NCAA Southeast Region Coach of the Year
— UK —
