If you want to see a team that knows exactly how to fight through a brutal conference and surprise everyone, look at the Iowa Hawkeyes. They just finished a massive year where they completely beat their pre-season expectations, finished right near the top of the Big Ten, and showed the whole country they are a force to be handled. Coaching Staff Head Coach Jen Llewellyn was just named the Region Head Coach of the Year, and it is easy to see why. She has built an incredible,

How old were you when you started gymnastics, and what originally drew you to the sport? I was put into baby classes at one, growing up I was surrounded by gymnastics so it seemed natural for me to start, it wasn’t until I got older that I developed a passion for it. What is your favorite meet, your favorite and least favorite events, and the hardest/easiest skill you ever trained? My favorite meet I’ve ever competed in was JO nationals in Florida 2024 this was after I had be

What made you want to coach gymnastics? I’ve always had so much passion for the sport of Gymnastics. I started when I was four and never looked back. I think Gymnastics is a sport where coaching truly matters, the people in your corner matter and how supported and safe you feel matters. I wanted to make sure that I could contribute to creating healthy and safe spaces for athletes to be successful. Were you a gymnast yourself growing up before you started coaching the sport? Y

If you want to see the most exciting team on the rise right now, look at Clemson. Most brand-new programs take years to get good, but Clemson completely skipped the waiting part. In just their third season, they went out and won the 2026 ACC Championship, made it into the national top 15, and packed out their home gym with crazy loud fans. Coaching Staff The real reason they got so good so fast is their incredible coaching staff. Co-Head Coaches Justin Howell and Elisabeth C

If you want to see a team that knows exactly how to stay at the top year after year, look at Alabama. They are one of the most famous gymnastics schools in history, and right now, they are more exciting than ever. They finished their season ranked right in the top ten and swept the central region coaching awards because their staff is doing an amazing job building a family culture that wins. Coaching Staff Head Coach Ashley Johnston competed for Alabama herself, so she knows

What made you want to coach gymnastics? I’ve been obsessed with gymnastics from the beginning, studying the rules in my early teens. I was always going to stay in gymnastics, but NCAA was the goal after supporting my teammates on the women’s team at Illinois and was drawn to the parity, support, viewership, and competitiveness of the women’s side of the sport. From early in college I decided that’s where I wanted to be. Were you a gymnast yourself growing up before you starte

How old were you when you started gymnastics, and what originally drew you to the sport? I was 4 years old when I started the sport! My parents put me into the sport after watching me flip and swing on everything in sight, and my passion has never faded since! What is your favorite meet, your favorite and least favorite events, and the hardest/easiest skill you ever trained? My favorite meet is the Legacy Luau! My favorite event is bars, and I don't necessarily have a least f

If you want to see a team that is quietly building something really special, look at the Washington GymDawgs. Moving into the Big Ten is a huge challenge, but Washington has shown they are not backing down. They are working hard to climb up the rankings, bringing huge energy every single week and showing the whole country they are a team on the rise. The Engines of the Momentum The real reason this team is building so much momentum is their awesome coaching staff. Head Coach

If you want to see a team that is quietly putting together all the pieces to be a major threat in the ACC, look at Pitt. Over the last few seasons, they have been working hard to climb the rankings, changing the culture, and getting their best scores in years. Plus, they are moving into a brand-new facility, making it a really exciting time for this program. Coaching Staff: The rise in Pittsburgh is led by Head Coach Casey Jo MacPherson. She knows exactly what it takes to

If you want to see the most exciting team on the rise in the Big Ten right now, look at Penn State. They are coming off a great season where they finished in the top 20 and made it to NCAA Regionals for the fourth year in a row. StateCollege.com Coaching Staff For the last nine seasons, Head Coach Sarah Brown was the leader who built this high-energy culture and kept the athletes healthy through a tough schedule. She did an amazing job, and she actually just took the head c

The Mizzou Rise: to SEC Powerhouse If you are looking for the most exciting upward trend in the SEC, look at the Mizzou Tigers. Over the last few years, the program has evolved from a team fighting for a regional spot into a nationally ranked powerhouse that consistently challenges the biggest names in the sport. Coaching Staff The momentum in Columbia is led by Head Coach Shannon Welker, who has been the architect of this rise. Welker has built a culture that is famously "t

The Rise of UCLA Gymnastics: A Legacy of Culture Over Conquest Have you ever wondered what it feels like to fly? Or how a legendary program navigates a rough patch to climb back to the top? UCLA Gymnastics is a powerhouse, but its real impact goes way past the final score. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or you’ve never seen a meet, there is so much to learn from how they handle team culture. Speaking from my own experience—11 years as a club athlete, four years coaching, and t

The Spartan Surge: Building a Powerhouse in East Lansing If you want to talk about building a program from the ground up, look at what’s happening in East Lansing. Michigan State has transformed from a program looking for its footing into a legitimate national powerhouse. Under Head Coach Mike Rowe, the Spartans have developed a culture of "accountability and unity" that is now the envy of many in the Big Ten. A Fresh Staff for a New Chapter There has been a big shift in the

In college gym, coaching changes happen fast. Head coaches leaving, assistant roles swapping—it feels like it happens every single summer for most teams. But while everyone else is dealing with constant turnover, Oklahoma stays completely locked in. And the national titles just keep coming. With the news that Ashley Kerr is leaving after an incredible run, K.J. Kindler didn’t miss a single beat. She immediately brought Sooner legend Olivia Trautman back home to fill the role.

In the month of June we had a lot of content all the way from featured interviews of coaches and athletes to how to get over a mental block to NCAA team spotlights. I am got the opportunity to interview so amazing coaches and gymnasts some of them include: University Of Interview Head Coach Josh Nilson University Of Iowa Gymnast Stella D Junior Elite Gymnast Alexis Reiner University Of Alabama Commit Kate LaCoursiere University Of Minnosota Gym-Act Team Head Coach University

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UCLA’s Strategic Masterclass: The Art of the Perfect Staff While the rest of the NCAA is busy dealing with crazy off-season staff changes, UCLA is quietly playing chess. When Janelle McDonald took over the program, her mission was clear: fix the team culture, bring back that classic "Bruin Magic," and do it all without losing any technical precision. Fast forward to now, and she has completely delivered. She’s guided the Bruins back to the top, including a massive NCAA runner

What made you want to coach gymnastics? I actually never planned to be a gymnastics coach! I coached to pay for my degree and fell in love with it. Were you a gymnast yourself growing up before you started coaching the sport? I was! My first competition I was 6 years old. I competed for 11 years when a motorcycle accident sideline my training. How did you help your athletes overcome mental blocks? I think the most common thing I do is take everything back one step immediately

My favorite beam picture when I was a gymnastics Miss it so much! Flipping the Script: Navigating the Double-Edged Sword of the NCAA Gymnastics Transfer Portal If you feel like the rosters in NCAA gymnastics are shifting faster than ever, you’re not imagining things. The "Transfer Portal" has officially become one of the most significant—and complex—parts of collegiate gymnastics. As a coach, I see the portal as a double-edged sword: it provides incredible freedom for athlete