Bowling Green State University Athletics
Jones Added to Gymnastics Coaching Staff
August 20, 2012 | Gymnastics
Bowling Green, Ohio -- Bowling Green State University head gymnastics coach Kerrie Beach has announced the hire of Taylor Jones, who will join the gymnastics coaching staff as an assistant.
Jones comes to BGSU after completing her own collegiate gymnastics career at Ohio State, where she was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2009 and helped the Buckeyes qualify to the NCAA Championships in her senior season.
Jones will focus her efforts on coaching balance beam, a key event for the Falcons.
"I am so pleased to welcome Taylor to our staff," said Beach. "She was an outstanding gymnast at Ohio State, finishing her career competing at the NCAA Championships in 2012. I expect she will bring energy to our team and new ideas to our balance beam workers. Her enthusiasm for the sport of gymnastics is apparent and I am certain she will help us reach our goals for the upcoming season."
Jones graduated from OSU in June 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology. While at OSU, she was three times named to the Dean's List for her academic achievements, all while competing multiple events for the Buckeyes gymnastics team.
Along with earning Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors in 2009, Jones was selected as a First Team All-Big Ten member and recognized as the Buckeyes' Most Dedicated Gymnast.
She co-captained the 2011 and 2012 squads, helping the Buckeyes make history by advancing to the NCAA Championships for the first time since 1990 in 2012. She ended her senior year as co-captain of a top-ten gymnastics program.
Before college, Jones trained at Dynamo Gymnastics in Oklahoma City, Okla., the same club that produced Olympic gold medalist Shannon Miller.
In 2006, she was named the Oklahoma Gymnast of the Year and also received the "Shannon Miller Award." As a club gymnast, Jones qualified to J.O. Nationals four times and was a six-time Oklahoma state all-around champion.
"I am so grateful to be given this opportunity to work with this group of girls and coaching staff at such a great university," Jones said. "I am eager to contribute to the team by helping them qualify to NCAA Regionals and to making this gymnastics season a successful one."
Jones is the second addition to the gymnastics staff, following the hiring of assistant coach Chad Wiest last fall.