Courtney Kupets Carter will not be returning as head coach of the Georgia gymnastics team after seven seasons at the helm.
Josh Brooks, Georgia’s athletic director, announced Kupets Carter’s dismissal in a statement Friday.
“These are always difficult decisions, but this one was especially tough because of what Courtney and her family mean to the University of Georgia,” Brooks said. “She is among the greatest Bulldog student-athletes of all time, and her many accomplishments and accolades will be remembered for years to come. At this time, we feel it is in the best interest of our gymnastics program to make a change in leadership as we pursue SEC and national championships.”
Kupets Carter, a two-time Olympic medalist, had one of the most decorated collegiate careers in the sport’s history as a gymnast at the school. A 15-time All-American, she led the GymDogs to four straight national championships in 2006-09 and won nine individual NCAA titles. She became the first gymnast in NCAA history to win the all-around title and all four individual event titles.
The now 37-year-old became Georgia’s head coach in 2017 but was unable to replicate the success she had previously had as a member of the team. The GymDogs finished in last place at the SEC championships for the third year in a row last month and haven’t reached the NCAA championships since 2019. Georgia recorded a 7-12 record this year and went 1-6 during the SEC regular season.
Kupets Carter was in Fort Worth, Texas, for the NCAA championships with Lily Smith, the reigning SEC Freshman of the Year, who competed on all four events as an individual and earned four All-America honors for her efforts Thursday.
Georgia has the most national championship team titles in women’s gymnastics history with 10 but has not won since Kupets Carter’s senior season.
The school said it would begin its search for a new coach immediately.
