Leah Little, who built the Wildcats’ gymnastics program into one of the UK’s most popular varsity sports, announced her retirement Friday after 28 seasons.

Little, a two-time SEC Coach of the Year, started the program in 1974-75 and is considered by many a pioneer in helping integrate women’s athletics into the collegiate environment.

“As someone who was raised in Lexington and who bleeds blue for this athletics program, this was a very emotional decision for me,” Little said. “But I’ve reached a point in my life where I’m ready for a new challenge, and likewise, I think it’s time this program gets a fresh look.”

The gymnastics program began as a club sport, and as a result of Title IX, a law requiring gender equity in educational offerings, the GymKats reached varsity status in 1980. In the past 23 years, Little’s teams have reached the NCAA Regionals 16 times. Highlights of her career include eight gymnasts advancing to the NCAA Championships, three earning All-America recognition and 77 earning Academic All-SEC awards, including 47 who earned scholastic All-America honors.

“I’ve been here nine months, but one of the first things I learned about Leah was that many identify ‘her’ as UK gymnastics, and there’s no question she has been a fixture around this athletics department for many, many years,” said Mitch Barnhart, UK’s Director of Athletics. “She’s had an outstanding career, a terrific run. She will be difficult to replace but we wish her well in her retirement.”

Little’s crowning achievement was coaching All-American Jenny Hansen to eight national championships during a three-year period from 1993-95, which still ranks as the most individual national titles ever won in women’s collegiate gymnastics. Hansen broke nearly every NCAA record, becoming the first gymnast to capture four event championships in a season, record 25 perfect scores and win three all-around championships.

As a collegian, the Lexington native competed at Eastern Kentucky where she captured the AIAW regional title and was a national qualifier.

Barnhart has not placed a timetable on naming a replacement.