Citing a desire to concentrate on academic goals and a different career path, Jill Hollembeak has resigned after five seasons as Illinois States head gymnastics coach. She will accept a graduate assistant position in the athletics departments academic assistance unit.
Hollembeak, a native of Cherry Valley, Ill., leaves after a highly successful run. During her tenure, Illinois States team scoring record improved by six points.
Her 2001 team was one of the best in school history. That club made ISUs fourth trip to the NCAA regionals, achieved the schools highest national ranking (No. 6), finished with a No. 25 ranking and set five individual and four team records. The outstanding campaign earned regional coach of the year honors for Hollembeak.
But the former Redbird gymnast never planned on a lifelong career in coaching.
I was ready to coach when I came back here, but it was never my intention to be in coaching forever, Hollembeak said. I love ISU and thats why Im not applying for jobs at other schools. I just dont want to coach any more.
Im always looking for ways to grow and improve and ISU has always allowed me to do that. Getting a masters degree has been a goal of mine for a long time. I think it will make me more marketable while opening up other opportunities to me.
Hollembeak said she will miss her student-athletes, who learned of her decision Sunday.
Ill miss them more than anything, no doubt about it, said Hollembeak. Telling them went much better than I had expected. I knew I had an exceptional group of young people, but they were so wonderful. They were sad and upset, but they understood. They handled it so phenomenally. I was so proud of them.
Hollembeak was Illinois States female student-athlete of the year in 1991. Also during her competitive career, she was cited as the departments newcomer of the year and the gymnastics teams specialist of the year.
Illinois State senior associate athletics director, Linda Herman, said Hollembeak is a bright spot for the department.
Jills coaching accomplishments speak for themselves, she said. She elevated our program to a national level. But Jill contributed so much more to Redbird athletics with a positive attitude and a genuine interest in all our sports programs. We have gained so much from our association with her and while we will miss her in a coaching role, we are happy that she will still be involved with our program.
Herman said the search to find Hollembeaks replacement will begin immediately.
