Who was MyKayla Skinner's coach? Everything to know about Tom Farden, the former Utah Red Rocks head who was accused of emotional and physical abuse

MyKayla Skinner was coached by Tom Farden between 2016 and 2019 when she was a part of the University of Utah collegiate team, Utah Red Rocks. Farden was co-head coach alongside Megan Marsden in those years and became the sole head coach in 2019 when Marsden retired.

Skinner has recently become a topic of debate in the world of gymnastics, after her comments on the recently chosen Tema USA who will represent the country at the Paris Olympics.

The team members include Simone Biles, Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey, and Hezly Rivera. In a since-deleted video on her YouTube channel, MyKayla Skinner criticized the work ethic of the team outside of Biles and spoke negatively about SafeSport, a non-profit organization created to ensure the mental and physical well-being of athletes.

“A lot of girls don't work as hard. It's hard too because of SafeSport. Coaches can't get on athletes which in some ways is really good but at the same time, to get to where you need to be in gymnastics you do have to be a little aggressive, a little intense.”

In light of McKayla Skinner’s comments, here is everything you need to know about her coach Tom Farden, who parted ways with the University of Utah in November of 2023 due to abusive coaching allegations.

Tom Farden’s career as a gymnast

Tom Farden began training as a gymnast in 1980 at the age of six and continued competing until he was 18. His career as an athlete was fairly lackluster, and he shifted to coaching soon after graduating from high school.

Tom Farden's career as a collegiate coach

Before he was MyKayla Skinner's coach at the University of Utah, Tom Farden started his collegiate career with the Southeast Missouri Redhawks, working as an assistant coach there between 1999 and 2009. Farden then spent the 2010 season with the Arkansas Razorbacks, before joining Utah as an assistant coach in 2011. As an assistant coach, his specialty was the uneven bars.

In 2015, upon the retirement of head coach Greg Marsden, Farden was promoted to co-head coach with Megan Marsden, a position he held until 2019. In 2019, Marsden retired, leaving Farden the sole head coach.

In his time as head coach of the University of Utah gymnastics program, Tom Farden coached 8 NCAA Champions and led 127 athletes to All-America awards, including MyKayla Skinner.

Tom Farden and Kara Eaker controversy

In 2023, Tom Farden was accused of abusive coaching by Utah Red Rock athletes Kara Eaker and Kim Tessen.

In October, Eaker took to her Instagram to announce that she was withdrawing from Utah and retiring from gymnastics, alleging that she had been a victim of verbal and emotional abuse. She said that the coaching at Utah had led her to suicidal ideation, and she had been diagnosed with severe anxiety and depression, anxiety-induced insomnia, and PTSD.

A few days later, Tessen spoke out about her experiences in the team, saying that she suffered from major depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation in her four years with the team.

In November of 2023, Tom Farden parted ways with the University of Utah after spending a decade with the team.

MyKayla Skinner on her coach Tom Farden

While Tom Farden faced backlash from some athletes over his coaching techniques, MyKayla Skinner was seemingly on great terms with her coach.

Upon her decision to retire from elite and collegiate gymnastics before completing her senior year with the Red Rock, Skinner had been all praise for her coach, telling the University of Utah,

"I will miss being a part of Utah Gymnastics and competing in the Jon M. Huntsman Center. I have nothing but good things to say about Utah Gymnastics, from the organization, the athletes, the fans, to Coach Tom and the staff. I will return to finish my degree and graduate at the U, and will forever be a Red Rock. It is no secret we have the best fan base in the nation, and I am happy to now transition into being a part of it.”

Mykayla Skinner's decision to retire came after she clinched silver in the vault at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. The gymnast chose to opt out of the conversation surrounding Farden and his coaching techniques in 2023.