The NCAA gymnastics landscape is expanding once again, and this time it’s heading deep into one of the sport’s richest talent pipelines. Texas State’s announcement that it will add a women’s gymnastics program—set to begin competition in 2028—marks a significant milestone as the first Division I program in Texas, a state long known for producing elite and club standouts. With Olympic champions Jordyn Wieber and Carly Patterson serving on the program’s steering committee and a future home in the Pac-12 conference, the Bobcats’ arrival raises big questions about recruiting impact, competitive trajectory, and what this means for the broader growth of collegiate gymnastics. Our contributors weigh in on the most intriguing angles of Texas State’s newest venture.
What does it mean for the NCAA gymnastics landscape to finally have a Division I program in Texas, given the state’s deep talent pool?
KT: Given the talent pool in Texas, it seems insane that it’s taken this long for a DI program to materialize. It’s exciting for Texans to be able to have a home state team to root for, and I’m sure in years to come we will hear about commits who chose the school because they’ve grown up going to meets.
Chloi: Texas is known for having incredible gymnastics, constantly producing NCAA, world, and Olympic champions. The opportunity this team will give upcoming gymnasts to stay in-state and close to home will be a game-changer.
How might Texas State’s presence impact recruiting pipelines—both within Texas and nationally?
KT: It’s an interesting one for sure. As time goes on, depending on the success of the program, I think it has the potential to make a big impact. I know all states have their pride, but Texans go big! Utah comes to mind when thinking about a state that seems to have lots of in-state athletes on their NCAA teams, so having a viable option in Texas, where there are so many successful club gym programs, will be an exciting prospect for many recruits.
Sophie: The potential impact on recruiting could be huge, especially with such a large pool of Texas-based recruits. Athletes who want to stay closer to home now have a DI option, which could prove especially compelling for elite athletes from big gyms like WCC or WOGA who want to compete on that circuit alongside NCAA.
Chloi: Not only will athletes from Texas want to come, but also athletes from around the country. Texas recruits who want to be short distances from home will benefit from the addition of this team. San Marcos is located between Austin and San Antonio, giving it that college town feel while also being near two major cities, and making travel choices easier for out-of-state athletes. Texas State is going big already by joining the Pac-12 conference, which will create a competitive environment for the team in scheduling and building rivalries that top-level recruits look for. Many gymnasts also want the opportunity to compete for an up-and-coming school and make history.
With Jordyn Wieber and Carly Patterson involved on the steering committee, how significant is that star power in shaping the program’s foundation and early perception?
KT: As we’ve seen with some of the new programs that have started in the last decade, having the right team and infrastructure in place before a single athlete sets foot on campus is crucial to the program’s success. Wieber and Patterson will definitely create a buzz that’s hard to replicate by someone without the name recognition. But despite the famous names, they also both have great résumés in leadership and communication. I think it’s a really exciting time to be a young gymnast in Texas.
Sophie: I think Wieber is an especially strong pick thanks to her recent and successful tenure at Arkansas. She seems to be well-liked and respected in the gymnastics community, and associating Texas State with Olympic gold medalists can’t hurt.
Chloi: Both Wieber and Patterson are great choices to help bring attention and support to the program. Wieber knows the ins and outs of college gymnastics from her experience at Arkansas, especially when it comes to marketing and building a fun home environment to compete in. She led Arkansas to consistent attendance, leading to the team moving full-time to Bud Walton Arena for meets. Patterson is a gymnastics legend in Texas, and her name alone excites gymnastics fans. She knows what Texans will want to see in the program on and off the competition floor. I know that this duo will be an important asset for Texas State in every way.
What should Texas State prioritize most in the next two years before its 2028 debut?
KT: Infrastructure and hiring talent. You want the first team that steps on campus to have an incredible experience; the gymnastics world is small, people talk, and if you get your hiring wrong, it’s going to take a few seasons to unpick everything and then you’re basically starting from zero again. But even the most talented coaching team needs to have resources and the correct infrastructure at their disposal to make a program successful. They don’t need to have the flashiest gym in the NCAA but the student-athlete experience has to be good those first few seasons if they want to climb the ranks and attract the athletic talent early in the program’s existence.
Chloi: Texas State needs to prioritize an on-campus facility. Having a facility will allow Texas State to recruit big from the start, gain strong transfers, and establish itself as a top school. It will also prove it is taking gymnastics seriously and wants the team to be successful for years to come. Whether the facility is ready or not by the time the team begins, having some plans towards this goal will keep recruits and future coaches interested and invested.
What type of head coach would be the best fit to launch this program successfully?
KT: Texas State needs to aim for someone like the Howells: strong track record of success in bringing a program up the ranks, and name recognition and confidence in their ability to deliver. Though it would be a bit out of left field, it could be a great opportunity for a really successful, well connected and influential Texas club coach to make the transition to college. This is a riskier strategy, so maybe you don’t appoint them as head coach right away, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we start to hear about in-state club coaches being interested.
Sophie: Experience and a strong reputation will be paramount. I’m thinking about Clemson, who had a great start to its program, but may have enjoyed even better beginnings without the controversial and short-lived Amy Smith hire. I’d like to see this program avoid scandal from the start.
Chloi: I agree with KT that Texas State needs to bring in a strong presence like the Howells, but I also think that a combination like Georgia had the past two seasons with Cecile Canqueteau-Landi and Ryan Roberts could be successful. While Canqueteau-Landi was new to college, she was the coach of many Olympians and world champions, and Roberts had the NCAA ties to help make them a balanced team that was able to bring Georgia back to nationals this past season. This combination would get the best of both worlds by having a coach with college gymnastics experience and a coach from a club gym in Texas that can help network and attract top Texas talent.
Looking ahead to 2028, which NCAA gymnast (especially one with Texas ties) would be the ideal transfer to anchor Texas State’s first roster?
KT: Dulcy Caylor, who trains at WCC, is a 2027 Florida commit. It remains to be seen if she defers a year for the Olympics, but she could be both a huge talent for the Bobcats and potentially even an Olympian—that would get the crowds in the door for the inaugural season!
Sophie: Katelyn Jong is from Texas, and although she’s been very unlucky with injuries in the first half of her career, she clearly has the potential to be an all-around star. With the recent coaching upheaval at Auburn, it’s hard to say what the future holds, but how cool would it be for her to spend her senior season building up a new program in her home state?
Chloi: Hezly Rivera. It would be pretty impeccable timing if she made her second Olympic team in 2028 and joined Texas State for its second season in 2029. It would be incredible to see a Texas gymnast with such incredible accolades join a brand-new team and bring more fans to college gymnastics.
What benchmarks should define “success” for Texas State in its first five years?
KT: I think the transfer portal will be a huge asset in building a competitive team from the get-go. If Texas State manages to bag a few names who can go 9.9+ on their events, then making regionals by the fifth season, if not before, should be a legitimate goal.
Sophie: Keeping Clemson’s achievements in the past few years in mind, I think making it to regionals within the first few seasons is a reasonable expectation. Nabbing some big-name recruits or transfers should also be considered a major success.
Chloi: I agree with KT and Sophie that regionals are definitely an expectation that can be achieved. I also think that Texas State should focus on building competition and rivalries within the Pac-12. The Pac-12 is still rebuilding from all of the conference realignments following the 2024 season, so a conference title could be within reach for this new team.
Using Clemson as a case study, what’s one thing Texas State must get right early—and one potential pitfall it should avoid?
KT: I mentioned it before, but hiring— absolutely has to get the right team in place before a single athlete steps on campus. Clemson is known for its die hard support base and stepping into a college that already has a whole crowd of people you know will show up to every meet must be a great feeling for the athletes. Texas State needs to get its fans hyped up that a gymnastics program is coming to campus, and I think having Wieber and Patterson involved will go some way to kick-starting that.
Chloi: Team Zero for Clemson made all the difference from the beginning and paved the way for the team to be a top contender at regionals this season. Without that strong group of athletes deciding to defer a year to set the tone, Clemson truly would not be where it is today. If Texas State is able to bring recruits or transfers willing to take a year off from competition and build the culture and rhythm for the next year, it will be a game-changer like we have seen with Clemson. With that said, conversations are happening in the NCAA regarding redshirts and fifth years, so this might not be realistic anymore, assuming athletes will want to maintain every year of eligibility possible.
What’s one bold prediction for Texas State gymnastics before it even competes its first meet?
Kt: Totally frivolous and silly, but I predict its first few leotards are going to be misses. The college colours are maroon and gold—it looks great on a football jersey but I think it might take a while to get it right on a leotard.
Sophie: Texas State will win a Pac-12 championship within its first three seasons.
Chloi: Texas State will have at least one sold-out crowd in its first season.
The news of this new program is still so fresh, but what questions, if any, do you still have?
KT: I guess it all depends on who it hires as head coach, but I want to know how aggressively it’s going to recruit Texan athletes from the club gyms. Is it going to go all out from the start to get star power in or is it going to build a solid foundation first in a ‘build it and they will come’-style empire?
Chloi: KT is spot on with what everyone is thinking and wanting to know about hiring a head coach and getting recruits from Texas. I am interested to see what plans Texas State makes for having its own gym. I am also curious as to what specific roles Wieber and Patterson are playing in this program, and also what happens to their roles once more people begin to join the team.
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