Interview With OU Head Coach Mark Williams

1. What made you want to coach gymnastics?

I come from a family of teachers. I started as a high school English teacher and coach. Having done gymnastics myself, it was natural for me to want coach what I know. As I moved up with opportunities, I was able to specialize on just coaching.

2. Were you a gymnast yourself growing up before you started coaching the sport?

Yes. I started in 8th grade and competed in high school and college.

3. How did you help your athletes overcome mental blocks?

Getting back to the fundamentals and progressing from there usually works. Also, sports psychology helps.

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

Paul Omi, my high school coach. I wanted to do what he did and trained to be a high school teacher and coach.

5. Were you a college or club gymnastics coach? If you were a college coach how did you become one? If you were a club coach, did you coach rec classes or the team and how did you move up the rankings?

I have coached every level. I started coaching in a club program while in college. I coached three different high school team. I’ve work either part-time or full time at nine club programs with pre-school to high school gymnastics. My last stop was coaching at the University of Oklahoma as an assistant coach and finally as the head coach.

6. I have always had the goal of coaching on a college or club team someday. What steps did you take to becoming a high level coach like that?

You have to have a lot of patience and passion for your sport. Doing the work when no one notices. Learning the craft from other top level coaches. Going to clinics and watching other programs. Experiencing all the levels of the sport and working with others to refine your style.

7. How did you fall in love with coaching gymnastics?

I loved working with youth sports and hoped to reach the highest level of coaching someday. I wanted to do something I knew I could be good at. See the results of the work inspired me to keep working to move up to better opportunities. Now having coached many NCAA Championship teams, and been to many World Championships and Olympics, the journey feels amazing.

8. Advice you may give to coaches coaching the sport or gymnasts still competing?

Make relationships with the people you admire. Work to know how they earned success. Never give up on your dreams. Work to make them a reality.