July 18, 2005
NORMAL, Ill. -
Illinois State rolls out the red carpet for Bob Conkling, first-time collegiate head gymnastics coach, who replaces Kristen Montero. Conkling officially begins his duties Aug. 1.
"I'm looking forward to the university atmosphere and coaching this age group of ladies because they are already adults," Conkling said. "It will be completely different from coaching children in that they will understand what I expect and know why I do things certain ways."
Joining the `Birds from Rockford, Ill., Conkling brings over 20 years of experience coaching gymnastics and that experience is what impressed Illinois State Director of Athletics Dr. Sheahon Zenger.
"Obviously, I'm excited about bringing in a coach of Bob's stature," Zenger said. "He has a wealth of gymnastics coaching experience and has strong ties with many club coaches in the Midwest. He is a great addition to the Redbird family."
The Indiana Wesleyan graduate was head gymnastics coach at the Gymnastic Factory in Marion, Ind., from 1982-84. Later that year he filled another head coaching role at the Gymnastic Academy of Rockford and continued there for nine years.
Taking a short leave from the Gymnastic Academy of Rockford to work in Atlanta with Atlanta Legal Copies and IKON, Conkling came back to the academy in 2002 and has been working there ever since as program director and coach.
"I look forward to working with a group of the same abilities and uniting with the team," Conkling said. "I met three seniors, Amy Biedenharn, Megan Goetting and Lauren Strnad, who all had excellent questions for me, and I can see being superb team leaders. At first it will be about getting the team used to me, and then I hope to find consistency and work as a team."
Conkling has a knack for managing people as well. As program director for the Gymnastic Academy, Conkling's tasks included overseeing programs of a gymnastics facility that served over 1,500 students. He also ran monthly training seminars and increased class enrollment by 25 percent within one year. During his time as head coach, he served as National Team Coach for the Region V National Champions in 1993.
His position as head coach brought him many successes. Within a two-year time span, Conkling doubled his team size, coached numerous State, Regional and National Champions and developed Division I recruits, including former Illinois State gymnasts and head coaches Jill Hollembeak and Beth Larson.
