University of Minnesota Athletics
Stack-Eaton, Stenger Named Assistant Coaches
10/21/2014 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
Oct. 21, 2014
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - University of Minnesota women's gymnastics interim head coach Jenny Hansen announced today that Geralen Stack-Eaton and Richard Stenger have been hired as the new assistant coaches for the women's gymnastics team.
"I am thrilled to welcome both Geralen and Rich to the coaching staff," said Coach Hansen. "Geralen understands what it takes to succeed at the highest of levels after enjoying a tremendous career at one of the most respected programs in all of college athletics. She is passionate about helping others reach their goals and I know she will make an incredibly positive impact in the lives of our student athletes. Rich has tremendous experience coaching at one of the best club programs in the country with Twin City Twisters and has been highly sought after for many college positions. He has great technical knowledge and a real passion for the sport, and I can't wait for him to share that with our student athletes."
Stack-Eaton arrives at the University of Minnesota after excelling at the University of Alabama on and off the competition floor. During her time at Alabama, Stack-Eaton was part of back-to-back championship teams in 2011 and 2012. She served as team captain for the Crimson Tide in 2012 and was named NCAA Division I Gymnast of the Year. Stack-Eaton won an NCAA Floor Exercise Championship in 2011 and an NCAA Balance Beam Championship in 2012. Stack-Eaton was a First team All-Around, Vault, Uneven Bars and Floor Exercise All-American with twelve All-American honors in total at the end of her career. She was a First Team All-SEC honoree and a member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll. Her career best scores included a 39.675 in the All-Around competition, 9.925 on Vault, 9.925 on Bars and a 9.950 on both Beam and Floor.
Most recently, Stack-Eaton has served as a coach and choreographer for numerous clubs including Parkettes National Training Center in Allentown, Pa., NYC Elite in New York City and Gold Medal Gymnastics Center in Long Island. Stack-Eaton earned a bachelor's degree in telecommunications and film in 2012 from Alabama.
Stenger, a Roseville, Minn. native, joins the Minnesota gymnastics staff after a seasoned coaching career in the Twin Cities area. Stenger has worked with the Twin City Twisters as an optional and elite coach since 2007. During his time with the Twisters, he has coached two Elite National Team members, five Junior Olympic National All-Around champions, 15 Junior Olympic National Team members and served as a technician for numerous high performance and collegiate camps.
Before joining the staff at Twin City Twisters, Stenger lead the Roseville High School gymnastics team to four state championships in 2006-09. During his tenure (2005-09) the National Coaches Association ranked the team No. 1 in the country four times. He was in charge of daily assignments, served as the strength coach, spotted high level skills, planned skills training and development opportunities while maintaining equipment maintenance.
Since leaving the program in 2009, Stenger has continued to serve as a consultant for the team that has continued its success with state championships in 2012, 2013 and 2014 while earning second place in 2010 and 2011.
Before working with the Roseville High School gymnastics team, Stenger served as the team coach for Roseville Gymnastics where he was responsible for all levels of development and competition and created the training curriculum for all different levels of gymnasts in the program. He coached and developed the USA TOPS program and coached a National TOPS Team member and two Junior Olympic National champions.
Stenger will begin his coaching duties immediately and Stack-Eaton will join the Maroon and Gold on Oct. 27 as the team prepares for the 2014 season. Minnesota will host its intrasquad meet on Saturday, Jan. 3 at 4 p.m. in the Sports Pavilion.
"I am thrilled to welcome both Geralen and Rich to the coaching staff," said Coach Hansen. "Geralen understands what it takes to succeed at the highest of levels after enjoying a tremendous career at one of the most respected programs in all of college athletics. She is passionate about helping others reach their goals and I know she will make an incredibly positive impact in the lives of our student athletes. Rich has tremendous experience coaching at one of the best club programs in the country with Twin City Twisters and has been highly sought after for many college positions. He has great technical knowledge and a real passion for the sport, and I can't wait for him to share that with our student athletes."
Stack-Eaton arrives at the University of Minnesota after excelling at the University of Alabama on and off the competition floor. During her time at Alabama, Stack-Eaton was part of back-to-back championship teams in 2011 and 2012. She served as team captain for the Crimson Tide in 2012 and was named NCAA Division I Gymnast of the Year. Stack-Eaton won an NCAA Floor Exercise Championship in 2011 and an NCAA Balance Beam Championship in 2012. Stack-Eaton was a First team All-Around, Vault, Uneven Bars and Floor Exercise All-American with twelve All-American honors in total at the end of her career. She was a First Team All-SEC honoree and a member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll. Her career best scores included a 39.675 in the All-Around competition, 9.925 on Vault, 9.925 on Bars and a 9.950 on both Beam and Floor.
Most recently, Stack-Eaton has served as a coach and choreographer for numerous clubs including Parkettes National Training Center in Allentown, Pa., NYC Elite in New York City and Gold Medal Gymnastics Center in Long Island. Stack-Eaton earned a bachelor's degree in telecommunications and film in 2012 from Alabama.
Stenger, a Roseville, Minn. native, joins the Minnesota gymnastics staff after a seasoned coaching career in the Twin Cities area. Stenger has worked with the Twin City Twisters as an optional and elite coach since 2007. During his time with the Twisters, he has coached two Elite National Team members, five Junior Olympic National All-Around champions, 15 Junior Olympic National Team members and served as a technician for numerous high performance and collegiate camps.
Before joining the staff at Twin City Twisters, Stenger lead the Roseville High School gymnastics team to four state championships in 2006-09. During his tenure (2005-09) the National Coaches Association ranked the team No. 1 in the country four times. He was in charge of daily assignments, served as the strength coach, spotted high level skills, planned skills training and development opportunities while maintaining equipment maintenance.
Since leaving the program in 2009, Stenger has continued to serve as a consultant for the team that has continued its success with state championships in 2012, 2013 and 2014 while earning second place in 2010 and 2011.
Before working with the Roseville High School gymnastics team, Stenger served as the team coach for Roseville Gymnastics where he was responsible for all levels of development and competition and created the training curriculum for all different levels of gymnasts in the program. He coached and developed the USA TOPS program and coached a National TOPS Team member and two Junior Olympic National champions.
Stenger will begin his coaching duties immediately and Stack-Eaton will join the Maroon and Gold on Oct. 27 as the team prepares for the 2014 season. Minnesota will host its intrasquad meet on Saturday, Jan. 3 at 4 p.m. in the Sports Pavilion.
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