Gymnastics: Boyd Joins Coaching Staff
June 14, 2011 04:28 PM | General
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University gymnastics coach Jason Butts announced the hiring of Bridget Boyd as assistant coach.
Boyd comes to Morgantown from Oconee Gymnastics Center in Watkinsville, Ga. A 12-year gymnastics club coach, she also has spent time at Classic City Gymnastics Academy and Georgia Elite, both Georgia-based clubs. Additionally, Boyd also has coached at the last five WVU Gymnastics Camps. Though she has experience coaching all four events, she will oversee the Mountaineers’ balance beam lineup.
“Bridget is bringing in a tremendous amount of club coaching experience, and she is very familiar with the Morgantown area, having spent the last five summers at our camp. It made perfect sense to hire her,” Butts says. “There were many qualified applicants, but during the assistant coach search, Bridget really rose to the top of the list.
“Bridget’s coaching background is very similar to my own. She has worked with a wide range of talented athletes throughout her club coaching years, and I think that will benefit her with the Mountaineers. She has honed her talents and has proven herself to be a valuable coaching asset, and our team, especially our beam lineup, with benefit from her guidance.”
While at Georgia Elite, Boyd, a native of Elberton, Ga., and a graduate of the University of Georgia, coached several level 10 regional championships qualifiers, including three-year (2007-09) Junior Olympic National Championships qualifier Lindsey Cheek. Cheek went on to earn a scholarship to UGA, and as a freshman in 2011, finished 11th on vault at the NCAA National Championships and earned second team All-America honors. Boyd also mentored gymnasts to the level 9 eastern national championships.
“Bridget is a very positive, outgoing and vocal person, and I think she will be a coach that the team can easily identify with,” says Butts. “She will bring a lot of energy to the gym, and that energy, combined with coach (Travis) Doak’s energy, will make the training atmosphere a very positive one. I am expecting a lot of hard work and accountability, and I think Bridget will also help bring the fun into Cary Gym.”
In addition to coaching at the WVU Gymnastics Camp, Boyd also has coached at Brown’s Gymnastics Camp (2001) and UGA Gymdog Camp (2001-05, ’08).
A 13-year competitive gymnast, Boyd competed at Classic City Gymnastics Academy and was a level 9 eastern national championships qualifier.
“I am very excited to join the Mountaineer coaching staff, and I thank coach Butts for this great opportunity,” Boyd says. “West Virginia University and the Morgantown area are a perfect fit, and I am thrilled to be a part of both communities.
“Coach Butts and coach Doak are already moving the team forward to a positive, successful 2012 season, and I am anxious to get in the gym and begin working with the student-athletes.”
“It’s nice to have a great staff in place. Her personality meshes very well with my own and coach Doak’s, and now we can start moving forward and planning for the 2012 season,” Butts says. “There are a lot of changes that will be implemented this summer and during preseason, and with coach Boyd now on staff, we can begin to lay the foundation for next year’s success.”
Boyd comes to Morgantown from Oconee Gymnastics Center in Watkinsville, Ga. A 12-year gymnastics club coach, she also has spent time at Classic City Gymnastics Academy and Georgia Elite, both Georgia-based clubs. Additionally, Boyd also has coached at the last five WVU Gymnastics Camps. Though she has experience coaching all four events, she will oversee the Mountaineers’ balance beam lineup.
“Bridget is bringing in a tremendous amount of club coaching experience, and she is very familiar with the Morgantown area, having spent the last five summers at our camp. It made perfect sense to hire her,” Butts says. “There were many qualified applicants, but during the assistant coach search, Bridget really rose to the top of the list.
“Bridget’s coaching background is very similar to my own. She has worked with a wide range of talented athletes throughout her club coaching years, and I think that will benefit her with the Mountaineers. She has honed her talents and has proven herself to be a valuable coaching asset, and our team, especially our beam lineup, with benefit from her guidance.”
While at Georgia Elite, Boyd, a native of Elberton, Ga., and a graduate of the University of Georgia, coached several level 10 regional championships qualifiers, including three-year (2007-09) Junior Olympic National Championships qualifier Lindsey Cheek. Cheek went on to earn a scholarship to UGA, and as a freshman in 2011, finished 11th on vault at the NCAA National Championships and earned second team All-America honors. Boyd also mentored gymnasts to the level 9 eastern national championships.
“Bridget is a very positive, outgoing and vocal person, and I think she will be a coach that the team can easily identify with,” says Butts. “She will bring a lot of energy to the gym, and that energy, combined with coach (Travis) Doak’s energy, will make the training atmosphere a very positive one. I am expecting a lot of hard work and accountability, and I think Bridget will also help bring the fun into Cary Gym.”
In addition to coaching at the WVU Gymnastics Camp, Boyd also has coached at Brown’s Gymnastics Camp (2001) and UGA Gymdog Camp (2001-05, ’08).
A 13-year competitive gymnast, Boyd competed at Classic City Gymnastics Academy and was a level 9 eastern national championships qualifier.
“I am very excited to join the Mountaineer coaching staff, and I thank coach Butts for this great opportunity,” Boyd says. “West Virginia University and the Morgantown area are a perfect fit, and I am thrilled to be a part of both communities.
“Coach Butts and coach Doak are already moving the team forward to a positive, successful 2012 season, and I am anxious to get in the gym and begin working with the student-athletes.”
“It’s nice to have a great staff in place. Her personality meshes very well with my own and coach Doak’s, and now we can start moving forward and planning for the 2012 season,” Butts says. “There are a lot of changes that will be implemented this summer and during preseason, and with coach Boyd now on staff, we can begin to lay the foundation for next year’s success.”
2026 Mountaineer Invitational Preview
Thursday, April 09
Nate Gabriel | April 8
Thursday, April 09
Coach Rich Rodriguez | April 8
Thursday, April 09
Coach Rod West | April 8
Thursday, April 09
