Any given weekend during the season, the Centenary Ladies are likely to face high-level Division I teams the likes of LSU, Michigan or Arkansas. You may think most coaches would shrink in intimidation. Head coach Jackie Fain is unfazed.
Fain has a practical and positive mindset. She knows her team works as hard as it can to compete against the best in the country. “I’m not gonna lie. We’re definitely at a disadvantage for many reasons,” she said. “My philosophy is more ‘let’s be the best we can be today.’ Wherever we are, whatever we’re doing, do it the best you can do it today.”
Located in Shreveport, Centenary College of Louisiana is the oldest chartered liberal arts college west of the Mississippi. The gymnastics program began in 1964, and notable alumni include two-time Olympian and Olympic silver and bronze medalist Kathy Johnson Clarke, who competed for the Ladies and led her team to the AIAW title in 1978.
In addition to her positive mindset, Fain takes pride in her team’s close relationships. The Centenary gymnasts practice together, live together, take classes together and now write together. “Gym Talk” is their weekly blog series. Each week a different gymnast composes the blog, updating their progress and involvement in outside activities.
Fain has a theory about why the women are so close and willing to jump in wherever they are needed—whether it’s to record a routine on video, move a mat or write the next blog post.
The WCGA Regional Coach of the Year explains that the culture is team and family-oriented, noting that Centenary is very small, with a student enrollment of only around 550. In addition to small enrollment and class sizes, it is a residential school, so students must live on campus. “That leads to a lot of team bonding and the athletes being close to each other,” Fain said. “That feeds our family atmosphere.”
Centenary finished the shortened 2020 season ranked first out of all Division III teams for the second year in a row. It also finished ranked No. 1 on vault and beam and No. 2 on bars and floor in all of DIII. The Ladies also had individual success as well.
However, despite last season’s success, Fain’s philosophy is more about the athletes than the titles. In her 10th season, she doesn’t necessarily want to highlight her own or the team’s achievements. While the Ladies have standout years, such as in 2013 when Centenary placed third at USAG nationals, she doesn’t think of those accolades as “highlights.”
“The kids, the team chemistry that we build each year and the struggles to get through—those are my highlights,” Fain said.
Navia Jordan, a 2019 alumna, had to overcome ongoing injuries throughout her career. A level 10 gymnast since 2012, Jordan had a foot injury during her sophomore year of high school and missed the Division I recruiting window.
However, after her injury, she realized gymnastics was more important to her than the level at which she competed. As she was starting to consider Division II and III schools, Fain reached out to her, encouraging her to join the team.
Jordan appreciated Fain’s enthusiasm and caring attitude, looking back on it warmly. “(Choosing Centenary) ended up being a blessing in disguise because I really loved having Jackie as a coach and the team environment,” she said. “I feel like I flourished at Centenary more than I ever did in gymnastics before, so it was a great decision.”
Given her injuries and career setbacks, Jordan valued Fain’s comprehensive coaching.
“Jackie does a great job of meeting her athletes where they are and working with whatever their individual needs are,” Jordan said. “
The four-time USAG nationals qualifier sees similarities with the rest of the team as well.
“With other girls on our team that were super injured and just worn down before college, she was amazing about making sure that their health and their bodies could last all four years and they were able to accomplish what they came to accomplish.”
When 2020 graduate Dorothy Mims joined the team in 2017, she noticed Fain’s warm hospitality. “When you first get to Centenary, she does a great job of making everyone feel welcome and making you really feel like you contribute to the team.”
For Mims, the injury landscape had several stops. Before enrolling at Centenary, she was a walk-on at a Division I school. Still, doctors told her that an unhealed concussion medically disqualified her from the school’s gymnastics program. In 2018, a week before the first meet of the season, Mims tore ligaments and her meniscus in several places, causing her to miss the entire season. It was a disappointment but underscored Fain’s steady confidence and unwavering belief in her even more.
Mims insists that her coach’s impact started at day one and lasts until she graduated. “As you continue your time at Centenary, Jackie really builds your confidence because she really believes in each of the gymnasts so much,” Mims said.
“She pushes you to get things done, so when she says do this thing, even if you don’t think you can, you get it done because she believes in you.”
Although Centenary recently added assistant coach Wendy Carey, in the past Fain has often been the only coach with an occasional part-time assistant. Her athletic training staff is small. The team does not have paid nutritionists, paid psychologists or other in-house experts. As a result, Fain has gone outside the program, specifically looking for professionals who can inspire her team.
For example, the team recently added workshop facilitator and executive coach Molly Grisham. The coach and advisor is currently working with the Ladies on leadership development and team building. She holds weekly Zoom workshops, growing their leadership skills and cohesiveness as a team.
While Fain tries to improve her team’s everyday lives, that hasn’t stopped her from thinking about their future, intending to have each gymnast become a better student-athlete along the way.
Since graduating, Mims is now enrolled at Washington University in St. Louis, studying biomedical engineering. When asked about a takeaway from the program, she doesn’t hesitate.
“After my time at Centenary, if I could do it over, I would 100% start at Centenary because all my experiences were so special. I think it’s an incredible opportunity to go to Division III school,” Mims said.
Jordan has recently completed her judging test. She’s passionate about Division III and encourages recruitable gymnasts to think outside the Division I box.
“People should consider Division III schools because you’d be surprised how good the teams really are. They are amazing when it comes to matters of the mind and focusing on the athletes as people and not just another work machine.”
“Division III schools should be given that chance because you’ll get the opportunity to compete, and you’ll be able to shine,” Jordan said. “Who doesn’t want that?”
After nearly a decade of inspiring gymnasts, Fain is delighted every gymnast who has come through her program has graduated.
But she takes the most joy from seeing the gymnast’s growth as athletes and as people.
“[The thing] I’m most proud of as a coach is watching my ladies improve and get better and better every year,” Fain said. “As gymnasts, they leave here better than they came here. That speaks volumes for our culture and our work ethic as they continue to improve as they go into the junior and senior years and how they grow as young women, too.”
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Article by Kelly Feng
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