Courtesy Arizona Athletics
TUCSON, Ariz. – The University of Arizona has named Tabitha Yim its new head gymnastics coach, Director of Athletics Greg Byrne announced on Wednesday. Yim comes to Arizona after serving as an assistant coach at Stanford for the last five seasons.
“We’re really excited to have Tabitha lead the next chapter of Arizona gymnastics,” Director of Athletics Greg Byrne stated. “She has competed and coached at the highest levels of the sport and has separated herself as one of the top up-and-comers in college gymnastics. We believe her combination of experience, charisma and the ability to connect with student-athletes will give Arizona the opportunity to compete for championships at the highest level.”
During Yim’s time as an assistant coach at Stanford, she coached gymnasts in all four events and specialized in beam and floor as an elite choreographer. She led the Cardinal’s recruiting efforts and played an integral role in the team’s social media efforts. Yim helped coach Stanford to its two highest team scores at an NCAA Championship competition in program history at the 2012 Super Six (197.500) and 2015 Super Six (197.250).
“I want to thank Greg Byrne and the staff at Arizona for this opportunity,” Yim said. “I’m excited to join the Arizona family and am looking forward to building off of the tradition of success that Coach Gault and Coach Ryden started here. I am passionate about creating a legacy that the program, university, and community can be proud of – not only because of the student-athletes’ success in the gym, but also because of their integrity and heart in all aspects of their life. I will forever remain thankful for the support of Kristen Smyth, Chris Swircek, and the Stanford staff, and I’m grateful to Greg Byrne and the Arizona staff for entrusting me with taking the program to the next level.”
A collegiate standout, Yim was a 14-time All-American at Stanford from 2005-08, earning the most All-America honors in school history. She placed among the top 10 in the NCAA all-around competition all four years and twice won Pac-10 and NCAA regional all-around titles. In addition, Yim was named Pac-10 and Regional Gymnast of the Year during her senior season.
Yim was an extremely versatile gymnast, which has helped in her transition to coaching. She won two regional titles and one Pac-10 championship on the balance beam, was a two-time regional uneven bars champion, and twice placed third in the floor exercise at the NCAA Championships.
A native of Irvine, Calif., Yim competed for the United States national team that placed third at the 2001 World Championships, the same year she won the floor exercise at the U.S. Championships. She also won a U.S. Championship on beam in 2002 and finished fourth in the all-around at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials.
A 2008 Stanford graduate with a degree in human biology, Yim spent two years teaching prior to entering the coaching field. She taught sixth grade in Charlestown, Mass. as a part of the Citizen Schools program and spent the next year teaching ninth grade in Los Angeles, Calif. as part of Teach for America.