CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Fighting Illini women's gymnastics head coach Nadalie Walsh announced the addition of Stephen Buckner and promotion of Kaitlyn Betts to her staff as assistant coaches. The Illini's coaching staff is now complete as they replace Chris Bogantes and Jessie DeZiel, who left to pursue other opportunities.
"I am happy to announce the selection of my new assistant coaches Kaitlyn Betts and Stephen Buckner," said Walsh. "Both of these individuals have the exact character, knowledge, work ethic, and passion that I was looking for in our new hires."
Buckner comes to Illinois after three seasons at Arizona State as an assistant coach under head coach and associate head coach, Jay and Jessica Santos. Both Jay and Jessica served on the staff when the Illini made three NCAA Championship appearances (2011, 2013, 2014).
"I am really pleased with being able to bring Stephen (Buckner) on as the newest member of my staff," noted Walsh. "It was clear to me right from the start that Stephen (Buckner) was looking to find a place where he could dig roots and truly make a difference. I value and appreciate how he has put in the time and hard work over past seven years of his career to prepare him for this position."
In his three years in Tempe, Buckner helped the Sun Devils to the most substantial turnarounds in recent collegiate gymnastics history as the Maroon and Gold squad improved 18 spots from their 2017 national finish of 41st, capping the 2018 season ranked at No. 23 nationally (highest finish since 2007). In 2018, Arizona State also made its first team NCAA regional appearance since 2014, while qualifying Sun Devil standout Cairo Leonard-Baker to the NCAA Championships as an all-around competitor. A bars standout, Leonard-Baker earned the program's first Pac-12 Freshman/Newcomer of the Year honor along with three All-American honors and being named to four All-Pac-12 teams.
This past season, Buckner propelled the Sun Devils to a fifth-place finish at the Pac-12 Gymnastics Championships, the best team finish since 2006. At Pac-12s, the Maroon and Gold also finished first in the first session with a 196.400, beating No. 19 Washington and No. 22 Stanford. For the first time since 2014, the Sun Devils had a winning record (11-10) in the regular season and the team was ranked in the top-25 nationally all season long, earning four wins over top-25 teams.
"I am very excited to be joining the Illinois women's gymnastics family," said Buckner. "I am honored and anticipate big things for this team of very talented young ladies. Nadalie (Walsh) has worked very hard at laying the foundation for a positive and successful athletic experience. I am thrilled that she has asked me to join her and Kaitlyn (Betts) on this journey of enriching the lives of the student-athletes while pursuing greatness on the competition floor."
Prior to Arizona State, Buckner was an assistant coach at the University of Washington for the 2015-16 season, where he coached vault and floor. While there, he coached vault and floor, helping the Huskies to a third-place finish at the 2016 NCAA Salt Lake City Regional. He also had a hand in coaching Washington's first individual NCAA Qualifier since 2013, all-arounder Allison Northey. Buckner began his career with the University of Alabama, where he spent five seasons on the coaching staff serving as both the team's strength and conditioning coach (2013-15) and a graduate assistant (2010-13). He helped the Crimson Tide to back-to-back NCAA titles in 2011 and 2012 and two more top-four finishes in 2014 and 2015.
A Nashville native, Buckner arrives to Champaign with his wife Alicia and six-month-old son Brooks. He is a former instructor in the University of Alabama's Department of Kinesiology and earned a pair of degrees from Alabama with bachelor's and master's degrees in Exercise Physiology. Buckner has been a certified strength and conditioning specialist by the National Strength and Conditioning Association since 2014.
"Stephen (Buckner) has the exact skill set that I was looking for," said Walsh. "He has an outstanding and noble character, an expert in strength and conditioning for gymnastics, a great spotter, detailed technician, and has done a great job of building up his recruiting connections these past four years. I see him making an immediate impact and I am excited to welcome him, his wife Alicia, and six-month-old son to the Illini Family!"
Betts has been a member of the Illinois women's gymnastics staff for the past season and has been promoted to assistant coach. She recently finished her first year as the team's volunteer coach. In her first season in Champaign, Betts helped the Illini to a runner-up finish at the 2019 Big Ten Championships, led by a conference title on the uneven bars by sixth-year gymnast Mary Jane Otto. Under the new regional format, Illinois advanced to the second round of the NCAA Ann Arbor Regional and finished third among the four squads on day two.
"It feels exactly right to be rewarding Kaitlyn with this full-time position," noted Walsh. "When coaches need to make a hire, they often start by looking outside their programs to bring in something new and different. I believe the best decision I could make for the Fighting Illini women's gymnastics program is to start by honoring and rewarding the very person who has already been loyal to me for years and continually helps me push the program forward. I have no doubts that Kaitlyn (Betts) is the best choice for the future of Illini family."
Prior to Illinois, Betts served 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.
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.
"It was awesome to get back working with Nadalie (Walsh) last season as the volunteer coach," said Betts. "I had the privilege of having Nadalie (Walsh) as a mentor through my experiences as a student-athlete, team manager, and coach. I am excited to continue partnering with the her and the Fighting Illini as we build upon all we accomplished last season."
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).
"The team had the privilege of having Kaitlyn (Betts) as their volunteer coach this past season, so keeping her will be seamless and the most beneficial transition for the student-athletes," said Walsh. It is clear to me that they respect and appreciate her. I believe they will be very excited to hear she is staying and filling this new role of assistant coach, which she certainly deserves it."
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's degree in Business Administration in 2015 and a master's degree in Sport and Physical Education in August 2017.
"Both Kaitlyn (Betts) and Stephen (Buckner) are already united with me in the philosophy that creating well rounded championship student-athletes starts with belief in the athlete, trust in the process, respect for each other in all situations," noted Walsh. "They both believe in what the University of Illinois has to offer and they both have the competitive drive needed in order to partner with me to press this program to new heights."
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