Clemson’s coaching overhaul made headlines, especially with the arrival of longtime Cal leaders Liz and Justin Howell. In this roundtable, CGN editors dive into what the Howells will bring to the Tigers, how their style fits the program’s direction, and what we hope to see in year three.
What does the Howells’ coaching style bring to Clemson?
Elizabeth: The Howells are known for cultivating a team culture rooted in consistency, composure, and competitive edge. That kind of structure will serve Clemson well as it looks to make the jump from a regionals bubble team to a perennial postseason threat. The Howells bring an attitude all about pushing toward something bigger with intention, and that mindset can transform Clemson’s trajectory.
Sara: I see the coaching style as a heart and soul vibe. The Howells care deeply about gymnastics, overall team mentality, and the whole athlete, which is so important when starting with a new team, helping push the Tigers to new levels.
Alyssa: The Howells brought the mantra of “one day better” to California as a way to push for continuous improvement. That will help a Clemson team that is looking to improve on consistency and quality of routines move up in the rankings.
Savanna: I think their style will elevate Clemson to another level. The Howells are known to push their athletes to be their absolute best and, like others have said, having a mindset of being one day better will help push the Tigers to a new level after it appears that complacency took over at the end of year two.
Katherine: The Howells are two very experienced coaches. I also like that Liz Crandall-Howell brings extensive judging knowledge.
Tara: The Howells are excellent at nurturing a team culture and creating buy-in to that culture while bringing out the best in athletes. The “one day better” mentality has always been one of my favorite team mottos; I can only imagine how it could push a team, as it’s something that even I have adopted to my personal life as an outsider.
How do you think their experience building Cal will translate?
Elizabeth: The path the Howells carved at Cal—building from bottom-tier rankings into national title contention—mirrors the long game Clemson will now pursue. What’s notable is that they didn’t do it overnight or with only blue-chip recruits; they built a system and culture that raised the level of everyone involved. At Clemson, they’re walking into a much stronger starting point than they had at Cal, and that means the timeline to top-15 contention could be dramatically shortened.
Sara: Cal has been dominating the rankings over the years and reached as high as number two in the national rankings in 2024. Before that, Cal struggled to reach the top 36 which was not the case for Clemson these past two seasons; reaching the postseason ranked No. 35 and No. 29, respectively. They should definitely climb into the top 20 within the next year. It does seem that the Howells have found their secret recipe to helping teams become successful, which should continue when it comes to coaching the Tigers.
Alyssa: California was in a worse spot than Clemson is now when the Howells went to California. The duo now has what could be considered an easier job as they start off with a team that has shown good results, has an athletic department backing them, and the reputation to get top recruits right away.
Savanna: The Howells didn’t go for immediate success overnight at Cal, and I think that’s good experience for them heading to South Carolina. With the university’s determination to elevate the program to the top of the ACC, the Howells are in a great spot and should translate their experiences rebuilding Cal to Clemson relatively easily.
Katherine: The Howells made massive improvements at California with a smaller budget, more recruiting constraints due to academics, and what was almost certainly less support from the athletic department than they are about to have. With all of those limitations now gone, the sky is the limit for what they can do to the Clemson program.
Tara: The Howells arguably saved Cal’s program after it was nearly cut shortly before they took over, transforming it from the No. 49 program in the last year under Danna Durante (2012) to a nationals-caliber team over the past few seasons. At Clemson, they’ll have more resources at their disposal to do the same thing as the Tigers aim to make a name for themselves on the collegiate gymnastics scene. Their experience recruiting and coaching gymnasts up throughout that time will prove beneficial for a Clemson team with lofty aspirations.
What’s one area of Clemson’s gymnastics we expect to improve?
Elizabeth: The vibes! More specifically, leotards and floor routines. The Howells have a great track record when it comes to eye-catching leos and choreography that actually feels intentional and artistic. Clemson’s look has been…out there…but we’re about to see a serious glow-up. When it comes to choreography, think more cohesive themes, cleaner movement, and routines that stick with you, not just because of how awkward it is.
Sara: Beam seems to be the event the Tigers “struggled” the most with during the past two seasons. While the team ended both years as a top 36-ranked beam squad, we will probably see improvement as the Howell duo coached Cal to Top 10 finishes on beam dating back to 2021.
Alyssa: I have to echo the comment on leotards. Crandall-Howell has designed some great leotards for the Golden Bears over the years and always lights up in interviews when she gets to talk about designing them. Now she has a new color palette to work with, which should be fun. I also expect consistency to improve on beam. California has had a top beam squad the last several seasons, and the talent is there for Clemson to improve with some consistency.
Savanna: If you read Leotard Rankings, you know that I have been…critical of Clemson’s leo designs in the past. Based on the small peeks we have gotten, I already know that the leo closet is about to go from drab to fab. Gymnastics-wise, I expect beam to improve tremendously and floor to be more tolerable to watch.
Katherine: I agree that the vibes as a whole around Clemson gymnastics have already improved significantly since the Howells were announced as the new head coaches, and it’s likely only up from here.
Tara: I think we’ll see increased consistency. Cal has been one of the more consistent teams in recent years, while Clemson has left a lot to be desired in that area. I’m curious about the vault strategy, also, as they often opted for cleaner fulls at Cal whereas Clemson showed difficulty under Smith but often struggled to cleanly execute the vaults. Non-gymnastically, it’s definitely the leotards—I haven’t loved many of Clemson’s leotards so far, while Cal has produced a number of lovely designs recently.
Who on the current roster could thrive under this staff?
Elizabeth: Brie Clark feels like a no-brainer. She already made history last season with the Biles I, and the Howells know how to handle athletes with big skills and big performance quality. With their attention to detail, she could become even more consistent and confident across the board. Lilly Lippeatt also has major breakout potential. She’s always had beautiful lines and strong basics, and the Howell coaching style tends to bring that kind of athlete to life, especially on bars and beam. Both could be huge under this new regime.
Sara: Paige Anastasi. She comes from Aly Raisman’s gym, and while she hasn’t competed much in college due to the depth of UCLA’s squad, she has so much potential. Now a rising junior, Anastasi brings a wealth of experience that should have a profound impact on the Tigers.
Alyssa: I could really see Sierra Church and Quinn Kuhl doing well with this coaching staff, particularly on beam. Church and Kuhl have shown flashes on that event, and I think the Howells can unlock that more consistently.
Savanna: I’m throwing a wild card option out here and saying Tara Walsh. She started to really come into her own on beam and floor toward the end of the year and was already very consistent on vault. If the Howells can clean up her technique, she could be a top scorer for Clemson in her final season.
Katherine: I second Lilly Lippeatt as being able to really thrive under the Howells, particularly on beam, her pet event. I think they could unlock a new level for her in terms of confidence.
Tara: Is it cheating to say Ella Cesario? Yeah? OK. I also think Lilly Lippeatt fits the Howells’ style well and could benefit from this change, while Paige Anastasi could break out with an increased focus on technique and cleanliness.
What recruiting impact might this coaching change have?
Elizabeth: We’ve already seen ripple effects in the 2025 class, but what’s most exciting is how this hire will position Clemson long-term. The Howells have strong ties to California and internationally—areas Clemson hasn’t previously recruited heavily—and their credibility instantly makes the program attractive to high-level athletes who might not have considered a mid-tier team before.
Sara: Recruiting has always been a big deal in the college sports world and gymnastics is no exception. The Howells have done an amazing job recruiting athletes and coaching the Golden Bears. Overall, the duo has lots of expertise, and since we’ve seen many gymnasts flip their commitment to Clemson, I expect they will continue with that success.
Alyssa: Clemson is a big athletics school that is likely going to have the budget to offer the full 20 scholarships with the new roster limits. With the reputation the Howells have, they should be able to attract top recruits immediately, as we have already seen.
Savanna: There was so much movement almost immediately after the hire was announced, but long term, this is going to be a big deal for the Tigers. The Howells have the reputation and the success that will drive many more top-tier gymnasts to take a second look at Clemson.
Katherine: Clemson will become even more of a recruiting destination than it already was on its way to being under the Howells. In addition to the big internationals, I expect them to bring in a lot of ninja level 10s that KJ Kindler was once quietly known for attracting, in the vein of Mya Lauzon and Nevaeh DeSouza.
Tara: We’re already seeing the benefits of this hire for Clemson, as a number of recruits have already jumped ship. It’s clear the Howells build strong relationships with their gymnasts, and it should only continue at Clemson. It just may be the missing piece in attracting top talent for the Tigers, as the facilities and athlete support are top-notch.
What kind of choreographic or stylistic changes do you anticipate?
Elizabeth: Well, it can’t get worse. Expect more cohesion between the performance and technical elements. The Howells’ gymnasts don’t just sell routines—they do so without giving away unnecessary deductions. California’s floor rotation was always a favorite of mine to photograph, and I hope Clemson’s turns out to be that way, too.
Sara: The Howells (especially Liz) have focused on technique for a long time. I did some digging and an article from The Daily Californian stated that Liz used to be an Olympic judge, which seems to check multiple boxes when it comes to overall style and artistry. Cal’s floor routines were amazing (and still are), but I anticipate that Clemson will have something similar with beautiful and improved choreography come 2026.
Alyssa: I tend to associate California with more elegant routines, and I think we will see some of that if that style fits the gymnast. I would anticipate that the Howells won’t force that style, so it could be something that changes over the next couple of seasons as more of the team becomes athletes they recruited.
Savanna: Anything is a step up from what Clemson put out in the last two seasons, so I already feel more excited to watch floor this season.
Katherine: California routines were very balletic and, as Alyssa said, elegant across the board. I think the Howells will find a way to combine that with the school spirit that comes with Southern schools.
Tara: I’m expecting a complete 180 from what Clemson was. Cal’s floor routines have always been some of the better ones in terms of style and choreography, and that should translate over to Clemson.
How does this hire position Clemson in the ACC landscape?
Elizabeth: The ACC is still growing in gymnastics depth, and Clemson just made the kind of power move that could shift the balance. If you can’t beat ‘em, recruit ‘em to lead your team instead. The Howells bring immediate credibility, both within the conference and nationally. That elevates the program’s profile for judges, recruits, and fans alike. They don’t need to “catch up” anymore—this puts them shoulder to shoulder with N.C. State, UNC, and their peers. The question now is how quickly they’ll move into the conversation about conference titles.
Sara: Personally, I was shocked and excited to see that the Howells were moving across the country to South Carolina. Although it’s a big adjustment moving from the West to East Coast, they won’t have to learn a new conference since Cal and Clemson are both in the ACC. I do expect that Clemson will now become a big threat in the conference, maybe even earning a conference title in the first year with new coaches.
Alyssa: The coaching shift likely leaves Stanford at the top of the conference, followed by California, Clemson, and N.C. State. This is a big move by Clemson to narrow the gap and surpass the more established programs in the near future.
Savanna: Clemson likely just put itself into the top half of the conference with this hire, but how far up remains to be seen, in my opinion. Could Clemson become successful overnight? Anything’s possible, but the Tigers are definitely up there.
Katherine: No other coaches in the conference can say that they’ve led their team to national runner-up status in recent memory, so I’d say the Howells are helping to position Clemson at the forefront of the pack.
Tara: This hire definitely puts Clemson in the ACC conversation and positions it well for the future. It could definitely shake up the conference dynamics one day.
What are your expectations for the team’s trajectory under the Howells?
Elizabeth: With this kind of leadership and the roster talent already in place, a top-20 finish in year one of the Howell era is realistic. From there, it’s about building depth and continuing to raise the bar each season. By year three, if recruiting trends hold and execution continues to sharpen, Clemson could absolutely be a postseason mainstay, with regional finals a realistic goal and nationals semifinals not out of the question.
Sara: I hope that the Tigers can capitalize on their already amazing first two years. I could see them going into regionals next season with a new mindset and even earning a spot in the semifinals.
Alyssa: In year one, I still see Clemson as an unseeded team at regionals, but once their own recruits fill the roster, I could see this team being a contender to make it to the NCAA championships.
Savanna: Clemson probably won’t win a national championship anytime soon, but I expect within a few years, it will make a legitimate push and be a seeded team at regionals instead of an unseeded play-in team.
Katherine: With the extra experience coming to the roster via the transfer portal, I expect Clemson to either win a play-in round or upgrade to an unseeded team in 2026, with the trajectory going up every year.
Tara: It may not be overnight, but it’s easy to picture an upward trajectory. The Howells have an established track record of successfully developing a team and should be able to draw on that experience to elevate Clemson. At the very least, we should see improvement from what it was.
What is one thing you hope the Howells retain from Clemson’s first two seasons?
Elizabeth: The energy and ambition of a team with something to prove. Clemson’s first two seasons had the kind of enthusiasm and drive that’s hard to manufacture—it came from a program that was brand new and wanted to make waves (doing so sometimes in less attractive ways than others). That kind of fire can be a competitive asset, and if the Howells can channel it through their more calculated style, the result could be something truly special.
Sara: I want to take this question in a totally different direction and go with difficulty. Brie Clark made history when she landed the Biles I in a February home meet against Texas Woman’s University and the University of New Hampshire. That moment went viral, and I think with all of the new faces combined with veteran talent, the Howells will take the Tigers far and could contend for a national title in the foreseeable future.
Alyssa: Clemson was aggressive with vault upgrades in the first two seasons, which did not always pay off. California tended to play it safe on vault, but I would like to see the Howells continue to take some risks with upgraded vaults.
Savanna: I hope they maintain the grit and determination that the team showed in its first two seasons. I also want to see the fan experience continue to be among the top in the NCAA. There’s still a lot of untapped potential throughout the program that I can’t wait to see emerge.
Katherine: The school’s and community’s buy-in to the team. The former is evident by the hiring of the Howells alone. In its first two years, Clemson quickly skyrocketed to among the top of the NCAA in attendance, and I hope the Howells are able to keep the hype for the team going–the groundwork is definitely there.
Tara: The buy-in from the Clemson community is one of the best and I’d love to see them continue to lean into that aspect of the program.
READ THIS NEXT: 4 Key Coaching Changes Set to Shape the 2026 Season
Article by the editors of College Gym News
