CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Recent graduate Connor McCool has returned to the Illinois Men's Gymnastics program as an assistant coach, head coach Daniel Ribeiro announced Tuesday.
"We are so excited to announce the addition of Connor McCool to our coaching staff," Ribeiro said. "As a four-year captain, model student, All-American, and Big Ten champion, Connor has already earned the respect of our team and staff. Connor knows our culture and has led it within the team for the last four years. His familiarity with the program will lead to a seamless transition in a year in which we have a chance to win a national title."
During his time as a student-athlete, Connor McCool amassed 22 individual event titles in the floor exercise, placing him at No. 2 in school history. The 2023 College Gymnastics Association (CGA) Specialist of the Year also earned four regular-season All-America honors (2020, 2021, 2023, 2024) and three NCAA Postseason All-American honors (2021, 2023, 2024).
McCool's leadership has been recognized consistently throughout his career. He was named a team captain in four of his five years (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024) with the program and received the team's Hayasaki Consistency Award all five years. The Ocean City, N.J., native was also a four-time Academic All-Big Ten awardee (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024) and two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (2022, 2023).
McCool earned his undergraduate degree in marketing in 2023 before returning for a fifth year to complete a master's degree in recreation, sport, and tourism with a sports management emphasis, graduating in 2024.
"The opportunity to immediately join the coaching staff and continue to impact the next generation of Illini greats is not something that I could imagine passing up," McCool said. "I am a proud alumnus of the Fighting Illini Men's Gymnastics team, and I credit Daniel [Ribeiro] and the program that he has created for who I was as an athlete, who I am as a person, and now who I am as a coach. It is any coach's dream to work with athletes who have the work ethic, character, and talent that this group does. I cannot wait to get to work!"
