University of Minnesota Athletics
Men's Gymnastics
Valdez, Jordan
Jordan Valdez
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- vald0068@umn.edu
- Phone:
- 612-625-6215
Assistant coach Jordan Valdez helped the Gophers to a second place finish at the 2018 NCAA Championships in his first season with the team. It was a very successful finish with eight gymnasts receiving eleven All-American honors. Valdez helped coach Shane Wiskus to a second place finish in the all-around at the NCAA championships as well as being named CGA Rookie of the Year, B1G Gymnast of the Year and Freshman of the Year. Tristan Duran also won gold in p-bars at the Big 10 Championships, the first gymnast to do so since 1992
Valdez was hired by the University of Minnesota on July 20, 2017 as a men's gymnastics assistant coach.
Most recently, Valdez was a volunteer assistant coach with the University of Illinois. In two seasons as a coach he helped the Fighting Illini to back-to-back second places finishes in the Big Ten. Last season he helped coach Illinois to a third place finish at the NCAA Championships with five individual All-Americans.
The three-time All-American was a member of the Fighting Illini men’s gymnastics team from 2011-2015. He competed in every event during his time at Illinois. During his career at Illinois, Valdez claimed 29 total event titles and won the high bar national championship in 2014.
“I am super excited to join the University of Minnesota Gophers. I am hoping to bring a competitive edge and use my experience from the University of Illinois to help push this team over the top,” Valdez said. “We want to win multiple Big Ten championships and I am hoping I can help make that happen.”
Valdez owns the fourth-most titles in program history with 20 coming on high bar. During his junior and senior campaigns, Valdez won eight high bar titles each season, putting himself in a three-way tie with Illinois head coach, Justin Spring, for most titles on the event in a single season.
"Jordan Valdez will be an amazing addition to our staff after the retirement of longtime assistant Russ Fystrom. Jordan brings an awful lot of high caliber experience as a collegiate gymnast during his competitive days at the University of Illinois. His personal success on the competition floor will be a real asset to the young men on our team. He will be able to relay to the them the championship mindset that can make a huge difference in our team's performance moving forward,” Burns said. "I know Jordan is very excited about the opportunity to move into a full-time position with a very competitive program here at Minnesota and I have complete confidence in a seamless transition to the Gopher Gymnastics program.”
Valdez was hired by the University of Minnesota on July 20, 2017 as a men's gymnastics assistant coach.
Most recently, Valdez was a volunteer assistant coach with the University of Illinois. In two seasons as a coach he helped the Fighting Illini to back-to-back second places finishes in the Big Ten. Last season he helped coach Illinois to a third place finish at the NCAA Championships with five individual All-Americans.
The three-time All-American was a member of the Fighting Illini men’s gymnastics team from 2011-2015. He competed in every event during his time at Illinois. During his career at Illinois, Valdez claimed 29 total event titles and won the high bar national championship in 2014.
“I am super excited to join the University of Minnesota Gophers. I am hoping to bring a competitive edge and use my experience from the University of Illinois to help push this team over the top,” Valdez said. “We want to win multiple Big Ten championships and I am hoping I can help make that happen.”
Valdez owns the fourth-most titles in program history with 20 coming on high bar. During his junior and senior campaigns, Valdez won eight high bar titles each season, putting himself in a three-way tie with Illinois head coach, Justin Spring, for most titles on the event in a single season.
"Jordan Valdez will be an amazing addition to our staff after the retirement of longtime assistant Russ Fystrom. Jordan brings an awful lot of high caliber experience as a collegiate gymnast during his competitive days at the University of Illinois. His personal success on the competition floor will be a real asset to the young men on our team. He will be able to relay to the them the championship mindset that can make a huge difference in our team's performance moving forward,” Burns said. "I know Jordan is very excited about the opportunity to move into a full-time position with a very competitive program here at Minnesota and I have complete confidence in a seamless transition to the Gopher Gymnastics program.”
Gophers Clinch B1G Win
Saturday, September 27
Highlights: Gophers 31, Rutgers 28
Saturday, September 27
Sights & Sounds: Gophers-Scarlet Knights
Saturday, September 27
Highlights: Gophers 11, Boston College 0
Friday, September 26
