Taylor Colwell Named Assistant Gymnastics Coach
8/11/2023 9:40:00 AM | Gymnastics
Colwell joins the Central Michigan Gymnastics program after serving the past year at Southeast Missouri State.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.—The Central Michigan Gymnastics program announced the addition of Taylor Colwell as its new assistant coach, Chippewas' head coach Christine MacDonald announced on Friday morning. Colwell joins MacDonald and fellow assistant Katy Ordway on the Chippewa Gymnastics staff.
"It is with great excitement that we welcome Taylor to the Chippewa family," Central Michigan head coach Christine MacDonald said. "The coaching philosophy and passion that Taylor has aligns with our program's values and culture. She is student-athlete centered and focused on elevating the individual as well as the athlete. Her commitment to excellence reflects our championship culture and will allow her to make a seamless transition into our program."
Colwell arrives in Mount Pleasant with three years of gymnastics coaching experience after having recently served as the volunteer assistant coach at Southeast Missouri State during the 2023 season. This past year, the Redhawks took third place at the USA Gymnastics National Championships after finishing third at the Midwest Independent Conference championship. Four Redhawks earned First Team All-MIC honors and five earned Second Team accolades.
Prior to joining the Southeast Missouri State staff, Colwell worked for two seasons as a volunteer assistant at her alma mater Lindenwood University (Mo.). In 2022, Colwell helped lead the Lions to a third-place finish at USA Gymnastics Collegiate National Championships. She also coached Gayla Griswold, who became the first Lion in program history to qualify for the NCAA National Championship. Griswold capped her season on the vault in Fort Worth, Texas. Hadley Roberts joined Griswold on the WCGA All-America list. Griswold also broke the program record on the vault with a 9.975. Lindenwood finished second at the 2022 MIC Championships, with a final score of 194.875.
During the 2021 season, Colwell helped the Lions win the MIC, and take second at the USAG Collegiate National Championships. As a result, Colwell was a recipient of the WCGA Division II Regional Assistant Coach of the Year award. Under the tutelage of Colwell, four student-athletes earned WCGA All-American accolades, three were selected to compete at regionals, and three collected conference weekly performance honors. Colwell also assisted in the coaching of eight first-team and nine second-team All-MIC performers.
Prior to her coaching career, Colwell was a four-year member (2017-20) of the Lindenwood gymnastics program. During her time in St. Charles, Mo., Colwell helped guide the Lions to four consecutive MIC titles and a USA Gymnastics Women's Collegiate National Championship in 2019. Colwell and the Lions made history during the 2019 season, becoming just the third NCAA Division II program to compete in an NCAA Regional. The Lions set a new program record in 2019 with a Regional Qualifying Score (RQS) of 195.400, the highest mark in program history.
As an individual, Colwell earned USA Gymnastics Second-Team All-America honors on bars in 2019. Colwell also was a second-team all-MIC performer on bars and beam in 2019. She also was a four-time Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) Scholastic All-American and a four-time MIC scholar athlete.
A native of Plainedge, N.Y., Colwell graduated from Lindenwood with a bachelor's degree in Exercise Science in 2020.
"It is with great excitement that we welcome Taylor to the Chippewa family," Central Michigan head coach Christine MacDonald said. "The coaching philosophy and passion that Taylor has aligns with our program's values and culture. She is student-athlete centered and focused on elevating the individual as well as the athlete. Her commitment to excellence reflects our championship culture and will allow her to make a seamless transition into our program."
Colwell arrives in Mount Pleasant with three years of gymnastics coaching experience after having recently served as the volunteer assistant coach at Southeast Missouri State during the 2023 season. This past year, the Redhawks took third place at the USA Gymnastics National Championships after finishing third at the Midwest Independent Conference championship. Four Redhawks earned First Team All-MIC honors and five earned Second Team accolades.
Prior to joining the Southeast Missouri State staff, Colwell worked for two seasons as a volunteer assistant at her alma mater Lindenwood University (Mo.). In 2022, Colwell helped lead the Lions to a third-place finish at USA Gymnastics Collegiate National Championships. She also coached Gayla Griswold, who became the first Lion in program history to qualify for the NCAA National Championship. Griswold capped her season on the vault in Fort Worth, Texas. Hadley Roberts joined Griswold on the WCGA All-America list. Griswold also broke the program record on the vault with a 9.975. Lindenwood finished second at the 2022 MIC Championships, with a final score of 194.875.
During the 2021 season, Colwell helped the Lions win the MIC, and take second at the USAG Collegiate National Championships. As a result, Colwell was a recipient of the WCGA Division II Regional Assistant Coach of the Year award. Under the tutelage of Colwell, four student-athletes earned WCGA All-American accolades, three were selected to compete at regionals, and three collected conference weekly performance honors. Colwell also assisted in the coaching of eight first-team and nine second-team All-MIC performers.
Prior to her coaching career, Colwell was a four-year member (2017-20) of the Lindenwood gymnastics program. During her time in St. Charles, Mo., Colwell helped guide the Lions to four consecutive MIC titles and a USA Gymnastics Women's Collegiate National Championship in 2019. Colwell and the Lions made history during the 2019 season, becoming just the third NCAA Division II program to compete in an NCAA Regional. The Lions set a new program record in 2019 with a Regional Qualifying Score (RQS) of 195.400, the highest mark in program history.
As an individual, Colwell earned USA Gymnastics Second-Team All-America honors on bars in 2019. Colwell also was a second-team all-MIC performer on bars and beam in 2019. She also was a four-time Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) Scholastic All-American and a four-time MIC scholar athlete.
A native of Plainedge, N.Y., Colwell graduated from Lindenwood with a bachelor's degree in Exercise Science in 2020.
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