Olivia Dunne and LSU’s Coach Jay Clark Shuts Down Transfer Talks to Georgia: “First of Many”

Olivia Dunne and LSU’s head coach Jay Clark is in heavy demand after the recent win of the LSU Tigers at the NCAA Championships. Anchoring the team to their 33rd appearance at the Championships and the first national title was a big achievement for Clark and his girls. On the other hand, the University of Georgia gymnastics team, which hasn’t been to the finals since 2016, is languishing in the SEC standings. To shake up the team again, Clark was rumored on their radar as the new coach candidate.

Alongside LSU assistant coaches, Courtney McCool Griffeth, Garrett Griffeth, and Ashleigh Gnat, Clark was on the verge of leaving LSU. At least that’s what people thought until Gymcastic’s X post dropped the bomb. Is he shifting his workplace? Let’s hear what he addressed to the Baton Rouge crowd on Wednesday.

Olivia Dunne’s coach Jay Clark puts a full stop to the rumors

The official X post of LSU reads, “We’re especially thankful for you, our fans, our legislators, and everybody that’s represented here today. This is the first of many I’m gonna go ahead and tell you because we’re not going anywhere.” Ending all speculations, this statement from the coach himself may have relieved Olivia Dunne and her team. The LSU has been functioning at its best since he came to force as the head coach in 2020. Before that, the “Dean of Coaches” D-D Breaux took her team to the Championships 35 times but never to the coveted trophy.

At least to say, she has left a worthy successor who’s keeping her legacy alive. Having served the Georgia GymDogs gymnastics program for four seasons didn’t culminate as expected. Towards the end of the last season he served, Jay Clark was asked out for not being able enough to bring success. Now, the tables have turned and Clark is right where he wants to be. But is his pay enough?

How much does Clark get as compared to Livvy?

One of the X posts from three days ago quotes Clark, “I did joke with Liv one time when she wasn’t doing well one day. I said, ‘How do you want me to handle this? Since you make 10 times what I make.'” The highest-paid NCAA gymnast who’s reeling in cash for the NIL deals stands way above her head coach when it comes to earnings. Students earning more than the tutor sounds unlikely but in this collegiate instance, it isn’t.

Some seniors like Olivia Dunne and Haleigh Bryant can return for the fifth year—all thanks to the pandemic which had eaten one year up in-between. Coming to Liv, she is still not sure whether she will make a comeback but her fans are optimistic. If not on the gymnastic mat, definitely on social media!