Maile’ana Kanewa-Hermelyn Named Head Coach of Michigan Women’s Gymnastics
The University of Michigan just entered a new era in women’s gymnastics, picking one of its own to lead a program rich in tradition and championships. After more than three decades under legendary head coach Bev Plocki, the Wolverines chose Maile’ana Kanewa-Hermelyn as their next head coach.
This move shows respect for the past and a clear drive to keep Michigan at the top of the national scene. It’s a nod to both continuity and a proven record of winning.
A Thoughtful Transition at the Top of Michigan Gymnastics
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Leadership changes in college athletics can get messy, but Michigan took a more deliberate path. Bev Plocki retired after 36 seasons, closing out one of the most accomplished coaching runs in NCAA gymnastics.
Instead of searching far and wide, Michigan promoted a coach who’s been right in the thick of the program’s recent rise. Kanewa-Hermelyn is only the seventh head coach since 1976, which really highlights how rare these moments are in Ann Arbor.
Her promotion speaks to trust and belief in someone who’s already helped push the Wolverines to their highest heights.
Seven Seasons of Preparation
Kanewa-Hermelyn spent seven seasons on Michigan’s staff, six as a full-time assistant and one as a volunteer. She wasn’t just learning the ropes—she played a big role in shaping Michigan’s competitive identity.
With Plocki’s mentorship, Kanewa-Hermelyn gradually took on more responsibility, especially on balance beam and floor exercise. Those events became real strengths for the Wolverines.
Championship Credentials Built in Ann Arbor
Michigan’s climb to the top of NCAA gymnastics over the last several years is tightly linked to Kanewa-Hermelyn’s presence. Her tenure matched up with the most successful stretch in program history, including a national championship and a wave of record-breaking performances.
The Wolverines won their first-ever NCAA national title in 2021. That season completely changed expectations and put Michigan right at the top of the sport.
National Title and Conference Dominance
During Kanewa-Hermelyn’s time on staff, Michigan piled up achievements that show both consistency and real peak performance:
- 2021 NCAA National Championship, the first in program history
- Three Big Ten Championships
- Four Big Ten regular-season titles
- Multiple top-five national rankings across all four events
After the 2021 championship, Michigan opened the 2022 season ranked No. 1 nationally for nine straight weeks. That’s the kind of sustained excellence you don’t see every year.
Event Excellence: Beam, Floor, and Vault
Kanewa-Hermelyn’s technical influence stands out in the event scores and national rankings Michigan posted under her watch. Her work on beam and floor, especially, took the Wolverines to new heights.
Michigan hit a program-record 49.625 on balance beam against Nebraska and Minnesota. That score showed off both difficulty and top-level execution.
On floor, the Wolverines spent six weeks ranked No. 1 nationally after Kanewa-Hermelyn put together routines that mixed precision with real performance flair.
Record-Breaking Performances
The numbers really speak for themselves:
- Program-record team score of 198.525 at Rutgers
- Vault score of 49.875, the second-highest in NCAA history at the time
- Three consecutive perfect 10.0 vault scores in a single meet
- Program-record 49.750 on floor against Auburn and West Virginia
These weren’t just one-off moments. Michigan kept breaking the 198 mark and went toe-to-toe with the sport’s traditional giants.
Player Development and Individual Success
Kanewa-Hermelyn has earned a lot of respect for her ability to develop athletes. Her focus on details, technical polish, and building confidence helped plenty of gymnasts reach new levels.
In 2025, sophomore Kayli Boozer picked up College Gym News Breakthrough Athlete of the Year honors after making it into three lineups. That’s a real credit to Kanewa-Hermelyn’s approach to athlete growth.
Consistency Across Seasons
From 2020 through 2025, Michigan stayed in the national conversation, finishing in the top 15 across all four events each season. That kind of consistency comes from a coaching philosophy built on preparation, accountability, and trust between staff and athletes.
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Kanewa-Hermelyn picked up WCGA Assistant Coach of the Year honors in 2021, plus multiple Regional Assistant Coach of the Year awards. Those recognitions say a lot about her impact nationally.
A Champion’s Background as an Athlete
Her coaching success comes from her own elite experience as a gymnast. Kanewa-Hermelyn competed at Oklahoma from 2012 to 2016, for one of the sport’s powerhouses, and she knows what it takes to win at the highest level.
She helped Oklahoma win two national titles and earned All-America honors on vault and floor, plus a handful of Big 12 titles. That championship mindset clearly carried over into her coaching.
Academic and Leadership Foundations
Her résumé stretches well beyond gymnastics. Kanewa-Hermelyn earned Scholastic All-America honors every year, took on student-athlete leadership roles, and completed both her bachelor’s and master’s in human relations.
She also worked as a graduate assistant in athletic development, picking up valuable experience in fundraising and donor relations. That’s becoming more important for leaders of major college programs these days.
The Vision for Michigan’s Future
Now, as head coach, Kanewa-Hermelyn steps into a program with championship expectations and a culture built on excellence. She’s made it clear she values integrity, grit, joy, and personal growth alongside winning.
Michigan Athletics leadership sounds fully confident she’ll keep the program’s standard high—and maybe even push it higher as college gymnastics keeps evolving.
Continuing a Legacy While Building Her Own
The transition from Bev Plocki to Maile’ana Kanewa-Hermelyn marks both an end and a beginning. Plocki shaped the sport as one of its most influential coaches.
Now, Kanewa-Hermelyn gets her shot to write a new chapter in Michigan history. She knows the program inside and out and has already proven she can win championships.
Her vision for the future feels clear, and honestly, she seems like a great fit to lead Michigan women’s gymnastics into whatever comes next. If you’re curious about the official announcement, check out Michigan Athletics’ full release.