Olympic gold medalist and five-time NCAA champion Kyla Ross was promoted to assistant coach of the Gymbacks for the 2023 season and has kept the Hogs on historic pace since her arrival.
Ross has primarily coached the Gymbacks on beam since she joined the staff in 2021, and has helped Arkansas post new program records on the event in both of her seasons. The team’s latest high of 49.525 came on Feb. 24, 2023, five-tenths greater than the best of 49.475 set in 2022. The Hogs went 49+ in 10 of 12 meets on beam in 2023, and had 18 scores of 9.9 or better, with five career highs.
Graduate transfer Norah Flatley earned an individual NCAA Championships berth after she posted a 9.950 at regionals, the highest mark ever by a Gymback on beam in regional competition. Ross’ guidance at NCAA Championships helped push Flatley to a 9.9375, good for All-American honors and a spot in the Arkansas record book as the best-ever individual beam qualifier score and third-highest ever in Arkansas NCAAs history.
Ross initially joined the staff as a volunteer assistant and immediately made a lasting impact on the program, as she led the team to a then-program high of 49.475 on beam against Florida on Jan. 28. Beam was Arkansas’ best event for much of the season, with a final ranking of 16th and placement as high as 8th throughout the regular season. The Hogs earned at least a share of the beam title six times over 13 meets.
Ross’ early success as a coach comes off one of the most successful careers in collegiate gymnastics history. During her four seasons at UCLA, Ross won four individual NCAA titles – one on each event – the 2018 team title with the Bruins, and finished as a 24-time All-American. She is one of just 13 gymnasts to record a Gym Slam – a perfect 10 on each event – and is one of only three to record multiple Gym Slams in their careers. She was also the first-ever women’s gymnast to own Olympic, world, and NCAA titles.
Ross’ presence on the staff continues a dynamic with head coach Jordyn Wieber that has seen the two as teammates, coach and athlete, and coworkers over the course of 10+ years from London 2012, to UCLA, and now at Arkansas.
With Wieber at the helm and Ross and Chris Brooks as assistants, Arkansas was the first and only NCAA women’s gymnastics program to have an all-Olympian staff in the 2022-23 slate. Brooks is a two-time Olympian and served as captain for the men’s squad at the Rio 2016 games, where he also placed 14th in the all-around competition. Wieber and Ross competed together as part of the Fierce Five, who won the United States’ first-ever women’s gymnastics gold medal on foreign soil on July 31, 2012 in London.
