Behind every championship contender and breakout program is a coach (or coaches) steering the ship. From leading top-ranked teams to new heights to turning rebuilding years into postseason pushes, these coaches have proven their impact goes beyond the lineups. Heading into 2026, here are the coaches to watch in the race for Coach of the Year.
Justin Howell and Liz Crandall-Howell, Clemson
After spending years on this watchlist and leading California to national relevance, the Howells have taken their talents out east to a different ACC program, hoping to take Clemson from near-inception to prominence. Inheriting the Tigers just three years into their existence, the Howells would be mimicking their success out West, having taken the Golden Bears to NCAA runners-up in 2024 after the program faced being cut the decade prior. Clemson made regionals and finished in the top 30 in 2025, and the Howells brought a few commitment switches and an experienced transfer in Ella Cesario cross-country with them to set the Tigers up to challenge for the top 20 and keep the Howells in the awards conversation.
Maile’ana Kanewa-Hermelyn, Michigan
Taking over after Bev Plocki led the Wolverines to an NCAA title just a few years ago in 2022, Kanewa-Hermelyn is set up for a strong head coaching debut with a roster that blends experience and young talent and is certainly capable of making a statement. Michigan has missed nationals the last three seasons and finished no better than third at the last two Big Ten championships, so making drastic improvements in either regard would go a long way in calling Kanewa-Hermelyn’s first season in Ann Arbor a success.
Cassandra Ringer, Illinois State
There’s a changing of the guard going on for the Redbirds with Bob Conkling’s retirement after over two decades as head coach at Illinois State: former Ball State assistant coach Cassandra Ringer returns to Normal, Ill. after previously serving as a graduate assistant coach and choreographer for the Redbirds from 2017-18. While some key pieces transferred with the coaching change, quite a few stayed, giving Illinois State the potential to make a run at another MIC title. That would be quite a statement for a first-year head coach.
Meredith Paulicivic, Ohio State
With a loaded freshman class stacked with former four and five-star recruits, returning former top-26 all-arounder Payton Harris from injury, and retaining last season’s 23rd-ranked all-arounder in Tory Vetter, Ohio State is poised for a breakout season. This year is primed to be the culmination of years of great recruiting for Paulicivic and her staff, as the Buckeyes will be dark horses in a Big Ten that continues to get deeper. Paulicivic is a Big Ten upset or regionals run away from earning accolades.
Jenny Rowland, Florida
Now with a title drought over a decade long, reclaiming the top spot at the end of the season would make Rowland a near shoo-in for Coach of the Year honors. Once again, the Gators enter the season flexing a roster incredibly deep with elite and JO options, with sophomore Skye Blakely having just represented the U.S. at world championships and finishing fourth on bars. Florida will hope to carry her offseason momentum into 2026, where finishing on top of the podium in April is attainable.
Jessa Hansen Parker, Washington
Injuries left then first-year head coach Hansen Parker shorthanded in 2025, but now, with healthy returnees and a large and impactful class of newcomers, Washington is in position for a big rebound in 2026. In a crowded Big Ten, there’s going to be plenty of opportunity for the Huskies to have statement performances, and ending the season with a return to regionals would ensure that Hansen Parker has shifted the momentum back in the right direction.
Kirsten Becker, Penn
Penn removed itself from USAG nationals eligibility in 2026 to focus on qualifying for regionals, and it may just be the year for the Quakers to do so after just missing the mark in 2025. Becker’s roster features three realistic Yurchenko one and a halfs on vault—including Skyelar Kerico’s that propelled her to an individual regionals berth last year—giving Penn a signature event that teams on the postseason bubble need to separate themselves. The more prevalent Penn is in the postseason, the more relevant Becker is in the Coach of the Year conversation.
Cécile Canqueteau-Landi and Ryan Roberts, Georgia
Georgia Athletics swung for the fences in bringing in Canqueteau-Landi from the elite sphere to the collegiate level in hopes of restoring the program as a gymnastics dynasty. And, entering year two, the GymDawgs appear to be back on track. She and Roberts saw significant improvement in team results in year one, and with recruiting in both JO and the transfer portal going well, further improvement seems imminent. While Georgia is certainly a dark horse at best, a return to the national championships for the first time this decade could propel this duo to the end-of-season honor.
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Article by Brandis Heffner and Elizabeth Grimsley
Go Meredith!
Yeah I am biased by her UofU roots, but I think has done a fine job at tOSU and think/hope that program can make national noise.