After nine years, Mark Raymond steps down as gymnastics coach; takes job in Triton

Mark Raymond has been a part of some of the biggest moments in Austin gymnastics history, but he’s ready to move onto something new.

After leading what’s grown into one of Austin’s most successful sports programs, Raymond resigned as head coach of the Packer gymnastics team to become principal at Triton Middle School.

“It was a great experience; I absolutely loved it,” Raymond said of his time as coach. “It’s going to be tough not being in the gym any more.”

Raymond was the head coach of the Packers from 2005 to 2014, and he coached for a stint in the mid-1990s with Rhonda Alberts.

“She’s an amazing coach and I learned a ton from her,” Raymond said of Alberts.

After a three-year hiatus, Raymond returned to the Packers in 2005, and the team has enjoyed a lot of success in the past five years. The Packers won two Big Nine titles and advanced to four team Class A state meets. Austin’s Sela Fadness won the last two Class A state all-around titles, and Austin gymnasts Abby Bickler and Maddie Mullenbach have also reached the podium at the state meet multiple times.

Fadness said Raymond was instrumental in building up the gymnastics program in Austin. She recalls this last season when she was working on a new skill on the bars. Raymond drove to Winona with Fadness to work with the Winhawks coaches on how to prepare for the skill and he stayed with her a half an hour after practice for about two months straight until she got it right.

“That sums up Raymond for me,” Fadness said. “It’s not just something he did this year either. He’s always pushing you to get better and he’s always learning new things about coaching.”

Raymond enjoyed coaching in many big meets with the Packers, but some of his favorite memories took place inside the walls of the Austin YMCA.

“We’ve had a lot of success, but the things that stand out to me were things that happen in the gym during practice,” Raymond said. “When girls were able to achieve skills for the first time that they never thought they’d be able to do, it becomes kind of a piece of reality that this might happen. Those moments are awesome.”

Austin has had some great performances in the individual state meet, but Raymond’s biggest regret is that his team wasn’t able to capture a state title in the past few years. Still, he will fondly remember his time with the Packers.

“I’ve absolutely loved every minute I’ve had in the gym. We put a lot of time and energy into building a good program,” Raymond said. “It wasn’t a job, I had a blast doing it. I was blessed with some great gymnasts as they achieved a lot on their own despite coaching. They made me a better coach every year.”

Raymond will miss the camaraderie he had with fellow and opposing coaches, but he won’t distance himself too much from the Packer gymnastics team. Raymond will have two daughters — Paige Raymond and Morgan Raymond — on the team next season and he’ll likely be watching the Packers from the crowd.

It will be a strange change of pace for Raymond, who was very active and energetic during most gymnastics meets.

“I don’t sit in the stands very well,” he said. “I do a lot of wandering and I have to stay active. It’ll be hard to get used to and it’ll be tough not really seeing all of those other coaches.”

Fadness, who will compete in gymnastics at Hamline University next season, said she doesn’t expect Raymond to stay too far away from the gym.

“I think he’ll be around helping,” she said. “He’s got three daughters who are in gymnastics, and I don’t think he’s the type who would stay away completely.”

AHS is likely to hire a new gymnastics head coach within the next few weeks.