CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – University of Illinois head women's gymnastics coach, Kim Landrus, announced the addition of Kristina Comforte to the Illini coaching staff on Wednesday afternoon. Comforte will serve as the team's main vault and floor coach. In addition, she will be responsible for much of the team's choreography.

"After an extensive search, I am extremely excited for Kristina to be part of our coaching staff," said Landrus. "It was evident throughout the hiring process that her experience throughout her elite career, as a student-athlete at UCLA, and during her coaching stints since retiring from the sport of gymnastics, has allowed her to grow and become the coach that she is today.  Her vision of excellence, passion to impact the student-athlete in their collegiate career, along with her mindset of creativity made her the perfect person for this position.  Additionally, she has extensive choreography experience which will further enhance our floor line-up."

"She has learned so much from those that have impacted her life," Landrus said. "She values them as mentors and now is excited to give our athletes that same experience."

"I'd like to thank Kim Landrus, and the athletic department for giving me this great opportunity," said Comforte. "I'm thrilled to be back in college gymnastics and in the Midwest. I'm looking forward to sharing my passion and knowledge of the sport with the student-athletes and being part of an exciting season ahead."

A five-time All-American gymnast at UCLA, Comforte joins the Fighting Illini coaching staff after two years as the head coach at TAG USA Gymnastics. While at the helm of TAG USA, Comforte choreographed beam and floor routines, formulated daily and weekly training programs and provided guidance to athletes in all areas of their development.

Prior to TAG USA, the Hinsdale, Ill., native served as an administrative assistant at CAA Sports. Comforte had numerous duties at CAA Sports that included: creating and managing promotional materials, jumpstarting a social media presence for the basketball department and contributing to the recruiting effort of new clients.

Comforte earned her Bachelor's Degree in Sociology from UCLA in 2010 after competing on a full athletic scholarship for the women's gymnastics team. While at UCLA, Comforte earned All-America honors on vault (2), bars, beam and in the All-Around. She was an All Pac-10 Academic selection and winner of the UCLA Team Leadership and Heart of a Champion Awards in multiple years.

After retiring from gymnastics in 2009, Comforte served as an assistant coach and broadcaster for UCLA gymnastics, contributing to the team successes that earned UCLA the 2010 National Championship title.

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Link to Comforte's bio at UCLA

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