Connor McCool enters his second season as an assistant coach for the men’s gymnastics team after recently graduating from the University of Illinois in 2024.

During his time as a student-athlete (2020-2024), Connor McCool amassed 22 individual event titles in floor exercise, placing him at No. 2 in school history. The 2023 College Gymnastics Association (CGA) Specialist of the Year also earned five regular season All-American honors (2020, 2021, 2022, 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 for four of his five years with the program (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024) and received the team’s Hayasaki Consistency Award all five years. The Ocean City, N.J., native is 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,” said Connor McCool. “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’s 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!”