SALT LAKE CITY – Myia Hambrick, a member of the Utah Gymnastics coaching staff for the past two seasons, has been promoted to assistant coach, head coach Tom Farden announced Wednesday. Hambrick served as the volunteer assistant coach the previous two years in Salt Lake City where she primarily coached floor and choreographed routines. She will assume responsibilities beginning July 1, 2023.
"We are excited to have Myia as a full-time staff member and are grateful to our administration for their support in our new position," said Farden on the promotion. "She brings enthusiasm, a steadfast work ethic, and a competitive spirit that will help us remain one of the elite programs in college gymnastics."
The former LSU standout gymnast has led the Ute floor team to a top-6 ranking in the nation back-to-back seasons since joining the coaching staff. Last season, Hambrick's floor team posted a 49.475 or better in 10 competitions, which included a 49.5 at both the NCAA Semifinal and NCAA Final. The floor team posted a 49.530 National Qualifying Score and a 49.452 season average, which were the second-best marks on an event by the Red Rocks behind the beam team.
In her first season with the Utes, Hambrick guided the floor team to a fourth overall ranking in the nation with a 49.590 NQS. Her floor team was arguably the most consistent event for the Red Rocks in 2022, posting a 49.5 or better in nine competitions and a 49.4-plus in all but two meets.
"I am very thankful for Tom and our administration to allow me the opportunity to continue my career at Utah in this new position," said Hambrick. "I am looking forward to continuing the momentum we have built over the past two seasons and taking it to the next level. Utah Gymnastics has what it takes to compete at the highest level and compete for a national championship year in and year out. I am beyond excited to take this next step in my career right here in Salt Lake City."
Hambrick has had a Red Rock earn NCAA All-American honors on floor in consecutive seasons after
Maile O'Keefe earned first team honors this past season and
Grace McCallum did so the year prior at her first NCAA Championships. McCallum and
Sydney Soloski had also earned regular season All-America nods, while McCallum, Soloski and O'Keefe also represented the floor team at the conference level, earning All-Pac-12 honors in 2022.
Hambrick was named a 2022 Region Assistant Coach of the Year with Carly Dockendorf and Jimmy Pratt after leading the team to an exceptional season. In Hambrick's two seasons, the Utes have earned a share of two Pac-12 Regular Season Championships, and won two Pac-12 Championships and two NCAA Regional titles. Utah capped off each year with a third-place finish at the NCAA Championship to round out Hambrick's first two seasons as a Ute.
Following her collegiate career at LSU, Hambrick served as a Junior Olympic Optional Coach at Georgia Elite Gymnastics. She has coached gymnasts of all levels during her time at Georgia Elite Gymnastics and has mentored four 2019 Junior Olympic Championship qualifiers, a 2021 Nastia Liukin Cup qualifier and numerous 2021 regional qualifiers. Along with her time at the club gym, Hambrick has also worked with optional gymnasts across the country since 2014 where she has choreographed routines and cut music for the athletes.
Hambrick collected 20 All-American honors, which is the second most in program history, during her time at LSU. She earned All-SEC honors all four seasons and ended her career in the top-10 of LSU's career wins on vault, floor and in the all-around. She amassed 52 career wins, and was the 2015 SEC vault champion and the 2016 NCAA Athens Regional all-around champion. As a senior in 2018, Hambrick was an AAI Award Finalist, the NCAA Raleigh Regional all-around champion, an All-SEC selection and an eight-time All-American.
Hambrick graduated with a bachelor's degree in mass communication with an emphasis in journalism from LSU in 2018, while she earned her master's degree in sports management in 2021. She was a NACGC/W Scholastic All-American during her career and four-time SEC Academic Honor Roll honoree.