Interview with Florida University Coach Jeremy Miranda

What made you want to coach gymnastics?

I was a gymnast myself growing up. Gymnastics has always been my happy place, a place to escape the realities of whatever troubles I was dealing with and immerse myself in a world of strength, agility and art. I wanted to share that happiness, that passion I felt for the sport, with others once I finished my career.

How did you help your athletes overcome mental blocks?

Always go back to the basics. There is a root skill in every type of movement, so taking the time to go back to the basics is key to retraining the brain to get over any mental block.

Who was your mentor/ or a coach you looked up to when you started?

My dad was probably my biggest mentor. He was a huge advocate in me following my dreams and not stressing about how I would make a living at it. He instilled in me that if I was passionate enough about what I was doing, that I’d never feel like I would have to work a day in my life and that the financial aspect of the passion would come.

How did you become a college  gymnastics coach?

As the old adage says, “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know”

I was fortunate to be at the right place at the right time. I was a gymnast at the time when Nebraska gymnastics was in need of a choreographer as their assistant coach was pregnant. I went up to the coach and said I’d do it for free and he gave me a shot with one athlete. They loved it and I ended up doing the entire team that year and the next. The following year, the assistant coach at Nebraska got the job at Florida and he put in a good word for me and the work I did with his team at Nebraska. I interviewed for the position and have been at Florida ever since… 17 seasons.

Am a gymnast and I coach at my club gym right now and I have always had the goal of coaching on a college gymnastics team someday? What steps did you take to becoming a high level coach like that?

Surround yourself with college coaches. Word of mouth is still the most effective way to get a job and by working summer camps with other college coaches, that gives them an opportunity to get to know you and for you to know them. When a position opens up they can recall they enjoyed working with you or may refer you to a position they hear about becoming available.

How did you fall in love with coaching gymnastics?

It was truly just my love of the sport, but having those “aha!” moments are really what make you fall in love. When you give a correction and it clicks, or when you see someone struggling with their energy or attitude and you help them turn it around to be more productive that day, those moments are magical and are great affirmations that you are where you need to be.

Advice you made give to coaches coaching the sport or gymnasts still competing?

Show up, everyday. For yourself and your athletes. You never know what your athlete may be going through but that training time may be the absolute highlight of their day… their way to escape their reality of a rough home life, or issues they may be dealing with. Having just that little bit of empathy goes a long way in building a relationship of trust in each other that can take you very far.