Spring Break
Yoculan: Book 'beating a dead horse'
TYLER ESTEP
Issue date: 4/1/09 Section: Sports
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She's been in a relationship with Leebern since 2000, and shares an Athens home with him despite Leebern still being married. This is not new information, but with the release of Rich Whitt's book "Behind the Hedges: Big Money and Power Politics at the University of Georgia," has reintroduced the same questions she's been facing for years.
The book is heavy on Leebern's role as an influential figure on the Board of Regents, and spends a chapter covering his relationship with Yoculan.
In a recent interview with WXIA-TV in Atlanta, an emotional Yoculan said she worried that people get the wrong perception of her, and accuse her of not being a proper role model for the gymnasts she influences day-in and day-out.
"I know in my heart I have taught these girls to fight, to fight for what they want, to fight for what they believe in, to stand on their principles and to be honest and committed," she told The Red & Black Tuesday. "And in terms of my relationship with Don Leebern, I have been honest and committed. I know in my heart that that is the strongest message that I can give to these young women. They all know about the relationship, they know about it before they come to Georgia because I'm very honest about it."
Yoculan will be calling it quits after this season, her 26th year at the helm in Athens. She made that announcement prior to the 2008 season, but in that same interview with WXIA-TV, it seemed to hint that Yoculan's retirement was forced due to the long-term toll of public perception of her relationship.
Not so, she said Tuesday.
"It was just edited funny," she said. "My retirement has been a plan for two years, and it's been a thought-out plan, not an emotional one. We've already talked about the reasons. It's the right time for the program, which is as important a piece as anything personal."
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
georgian
posted 4/01/09 @ 9:39 PM EST
However, if somebody who was NOT a regent had a relationship with an subordinate employee (and don't kid yourselves, everyone at UGA works for the regents), you can bet they'd get fired. (Continued…)
carolinian
posted 4/02/09 @ 6:22 PM EST
this is ridiculous. suzanne has done a great job with this program and has contributed immensely to the popularity of collegiate gymnastics. all of her gymnasts, past and present, have nothing but great things to say about her. (Continued…)
BrideofChuckKnapp
posted 4/04/09 @ 2:06 AM EST
"A lot of people do questionable things discreetly."
Like President Adams and Don Leebern?
UGA prof
posted 4/06/09 @ 1:41 AM EST
Leeburn has been mentioned in connection to many questionable stories over the years (such as selling wine with the UGA symbolic without permission). However, this has nothing to do with coach Yoculan and does not reflect on her in any way. (Continued…)
CincinnatusII
posted 4/06/09 @ 11:35 AM EST
http://www.usg.edu/employment/policies/hr_manual/employee_relations/index.phtml#amorous
This is the BOR policy on amorous relationships and it certainly looks like there is a relationship that is strongly "discouraged' by the BOR itself in its own policy. (Continued…)
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