Olympic champion Simone Biles works out at World Champions Centre as she prepares for upcoming competitions on Wednesday, July 17, 2019, in Spring. (Photo by Brett Comer/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
Houston Chronicle via Getty Imag
Though USA Gymnastics is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, American women’s gymnastics runs through Texas.
Since the U.S. sent its first women’s gymnastics team to the 1936 Olympic Games, no state has produced as many gymnastics icons as the Lone Star State. In addition to bringing home hardware, Texas’ gymnasts have become household names.
Simone Biles, Mary Lou Retton, Carly Patterson, and Nastia Liukin all trained in Texas before claiming Olympic all-around gold.
At the 2024 Paris Olympic Games alone, three of the five members of the golden U.S. women’s team trained in Texas: Biles, Jordan Chiles, and Hezly Rivera. Three of four Olympic alternates also trained in the state.
Over the years, a handful of Texas gymnastics clubs emerged as the most prominent and successful gyms in the country, producing world championship contenders and top NCAA Division I recruits.
However, until now, athletes with collegiate aspirations have had to leave their home state to compete at the highest level.
In 2028, that reality will change.
Texas State Launches First DI Gymnastics Program
Texas State University announced Monday that the university will be launching the first NCAA DI women’s gymnastics program.
The Texas State Bobcats will join Texas Woman’s University (NCAA Division II) and McMurry University (NCAA Division III) as the third intercollegiate competitive offering in the Lone Star State.
“Texas has long been the nation’s greatest producer of elite gymnasts, yet until now, those athletes had to leave the state to compete at the NCAA Division 1 level,” Texas State President Kelly Damphousse said.
“That is about to change.”
Texas State plans to join a revamped Pac-12 Athletic Conference on July 1, positioning the team for conference competition against the Oregon State Beavers, Utah State Aggies, and Boise State Broncos.
“TXST is uniquely positioned to create a nationally competitive gymnastics program as we enter the Pac-12. We are committed to building a well-planned, sustained program that serves our student-athletes and the state of Texas for years to come,” Athletics Director and Vice President Don Coryell added.
While the scheduling is “tentative,” university administrators anticipate a spring 2028 timeline for the program’s inaugural season.
The national search for a head coach begins immediately. Once the head coach is secured, the program will begin recruiting efforts.
University administrators described Texas State’s new era as one of “unprecedented opportunity,” citing the region’s unrivaled recruiting resources. With NCAA gymnastics’ popularity skyrocketing and the transfer portal shaking up postseason prospects, Texas State athletics should be ready to pounce.
Since 2019, the NCAA national championships have been held at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. Conveniently, the competition is scheduled to remain in ‘Cowtown’ until 2028. If administrators and coaches play their cards right, their efforts could one day lead the Bobcats straight up I-35 to Fort Worth.