CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois women's gymnastics head coach, Nadalie Walsh, announced the addition of Kaitlyn Betts to her staff. Betts spent the previous season as a volunteer assistant coach with the University of Michigan women's gymnastics team.

"Adding Kaitlyn Betts to my coaching staff will make my staff truly complete," said Walsh. "Kaitlyn's technical coaching skills, energetic personality, and incredible work ethic will be a huge asset to the program. I am very grateful she wants to move to Champaign and invest in the vision we all have to see the Fighting Illini Women's Gymnastics program climb to the top."

Betts joins the Fighting Illini women's gymnastics program after serving a season as a volunteer assistant coach with the women's gymnastics team at University of Michigan. While at Michigan, Betts helped lead the Wolverines to the Big Ten regular season and championship titles. Individually, she helped the Wolverines earn seven All-Big Ten selections, along with having two individual Big Ten champions and a Big Ten Co-Gymnast of the Year. For her efforts last season, Betts was named Co-NCAA Regional Assistant Coach of the Year.

"I am so excited to jump on board with a staff that I am already familiar with and contribute to the program as it continues its growth," said Betts. "The University as a whole carries a tangible culture that I was immediately drawn to and am eager to partner with. I am thankful for this opportunity to work with the Illini and build up student-athletes in and outside of the gym."

While in graduate school, Betts transitioned into a team manager role for the Utah State women's gymnastics team from 2015-17. As a team manager contributed in the gym as a spotter and equipment and apparel manager, while also assisting with business operations such as practice logs, travel and meal arrangements, fundraising, alumni events, and social media.

Under Walsh's tenure, Betts was a gymnast at Utah State from 2011-15. She helped the Aggies qualify to NCAA regionals during her junior and senior years (2013-15), while earning second team All-WAC on vault in 2012. In the classroom, she was a two-time Academic All-WAC selection and four-time Joe E. and Elma Whitesides Scholar-Athlete Award recipient from 2012-2015. As a senior, Betts also served as a student-athlete mentor and was the vice president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).

"I am looking forward to having the opportunity to continue watching Kaitlyn grow in her collegiate coaching career," noted Walsh. "Kaitlyn previously was my collegiate athlete and worked as a team manager for two seasons with Utah State. I believe her transition into the program will be seamless and I foresee her jumping right in and making an immediate impact on the program and the lives of the student-athletes." 

As a Junior Olympic gymnast, Betts earned the 2011 Junior Olympic National title on vault, along with placing eighth on bars. In 2010, Betts placed third in the all-around at the National Invitational Tournament (NIT). Betts periodically coached gymnastics since high school, including working the Utah State summer camps for three years.

A native of Canton, Mich., Betts is the daughter of Steve and MaryBeth Betts. She has three siblings, a brother and two sisters. The former Aggie earned a pair of degrees from Utah State University with a bachelor degree in Business Administration in 2015 and a master's degree in sport and physical education in August 2017.

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