The $15.5 million facility was constructed from March 2024 to Jan. 2025
MINNEAPOLIS -- The University of Minnesota gymnastics program officially opened the doors of the on-campus Gymnastics Performance Center today. The facility, which was built in the Athletes Village footprint, is on the south side of the department's indoor football field.
The Minnesota program has achieved tremendous success under head coach Jenny Hansen, who is a former Minnesota gymnast and has served as the team's head coach since 2015. She was the interim head coach in 2014 and was an assistant coach from 2007-14. Hansen guided the Gophers to a Big Ten regular-season title in 2016 and a Big Ten championship title in 2021. Minnesota has competed in the NCAA Championship every year since 1995 (there was no NCAA Championship in 2020 due to the global Covid-19 pandemic) and advanced to the NCAA Semifinals in 2016, 2021 and 2022. Minnesota set a program record with a sixth-place finish in 2022 after finishing eighth in 2021 and 12th in 2016.
It's hard to believe this day is finally here," said head coach Jenny Hansen. "We have worked a long time to make this day a reality for our student-athletes and we're so grateful to everyone who made this a reality. To Mark Coyle, Marc Ryan and all our senior administrative staff, thank you. You believed in our program and saw the need. We now have the ability to train in a world class facility and the possibilities are endless for this program. We're so excited for our team to train at a facility of this level and we can't wait to get started."
The Gymnastics Performance Center will allow for student-athletes to study, train, eat and recover all in one location. Construction on the $15.5 million project started in March 2024 and was completed in January 2025. The Gophers continue to use Maturi Pavilion for home meets during the competition season.
Jenny Hansen and Mark Coyle watch as the team enters its new space
This is an exciting day for our gymnastics program," said director of athletics Mark Coyle. "It will be ideal for our student-athletes to have everything they need – academics, athletics, nutrition and athletic medicine – all in one spot at the world-class Athletes Village. I know Coach Hansen and her staff are excited to share this news with the team and with recruits and we look forward to supporting them during the process."
Construction of this new performance center will be paid for by athletic department revenues. Fundraising and private contributions will play a part in the department's financing for the project.
Moraw enjoys the new foam pits inside the facility
"It's just pure excitement and pure joy," said junior Sarah Moraw. "We have so much honor and gratitude to those that came before us and make this possible. Everyone who was involved in this process had a vision and made it come to life. I couldn't be more grateful for that."
The team's old practice facility, Peik Gymnasium, has been proposed for future demolition by campus leadership.
"This is just a dream becoming reality," said fifth-year senior Mya Hooten. "This will 100% make us all better. We have everything we need. It will be great for recruitment and future Gophers. It's just amazing. This gym will help us compete with the best in the country. It means so much to us that our athletic director and everyone behind the scenes believe in us and made this happen."
Hooten speaks to the media before practice
No. 21 Minnesota (2-0, 0-0 Big Ten) continues its season on Saturday, Jan. 18 in the Big Ten opener vs. No. 16 Penn State (5-1, 0-0 Big Ten) at 4 p.m. on B1G+.
