Francis Allen, who coached Nebraska to eight NCAA men’s gymnastics team championships during a 40-year tenure at the school, announced his retirement effective July 1. His teams won five straight National Collegiate gymnastics titles beginning in 1979 and also claimed championships in 1988, 1990 and 1994. He also coached nine men who competed in the Olympics and led the 1992 U.S. Olympic men’s team in Barcelona, where Nebraska gymnast Trent Dimas won a gold medal in the high bar.

Other transactions

Associate director of athletics – Seth Asbury, athletics events coordinator at Trinity (Texas), promoted to associate AD for operations.

Coaches

Women’s basketball – Mark Swasey named head coach at California (Pennsylvania). He previously was head coach for seven seasons at Franklin Pierce and also has coached at Norwich. He twice led Franklin Pierce to the Division II Women’s Elite Eight, including a runner-up finish in this year’s championship.

Football assistants – Daryl McNeill named running backs and assistant special teams coach at Saint Augustine’s.

Staff

Marketing and promotions – Emily Loeffler appointed to a position funded by the Division III Ethnic Minority and Women’s Internship Grant, as coordinator of marketing and promotions at Trinity (Texas). She was a cross country and track all-American at Trinity.

Deaths

Jim Carrington, a three-sport all-American at Navy after World War II, died June 1 at age 84. He played football and lacrosse and also was a swimmer … Russel Wiebe, assistant men’s basketball coach at Felician, died May 30 at age 55. He was an English professor at the school and had served as Felician’s first faculty athletics representative … Mike Woods, Cincinnati’s first consensus all-American in football, died May 28 at age 54. He played three seasons for the Baltimore Colts before he was paralyzed in a 1982 shooting … Jim McDermott, first commissioner of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, died at age 99. McDermott also served for 26 seasons beginning in 1948 as head men’s basketball coach at Iona and also coached baseball at the school from 1947 to 1963.