Makayla Curtis Joins Redbird Gymnastics Coaching Staff

NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State gymnastics head coach Cassandra Ringer has added to her coaching staff with the hiring of assistant coach Makayla Curtis on Monday.

"We are thrilled to welcome Makayla to the Redbird family! Her philosophy for the development of student-athletes and passion for the sport will make an immediate impact on our program," Ringer stated. "Makayla understands the championship culture we are building here at Illinois State and will be a fantastic addition to Redbird gymnastics."  

Curtis joins the Redbird Gymnastics program as an assistant coach, after serving in the same role during the 2025-26 season at Ohio State. Curtis has also spent time as an assistant coach at the collegiate level at SUNY Brockport and at the club level as well, following an outstanding collegiate gymnastics career at Nebraska.

"I am incredibly honored and excited to join Illinois State University as the new assistant coach for the gymnastics program," Curtis said. "This is a special opportunity to be part of a program with a strong tradition and a bright future. I'm grateful for the trust the coaching staff has placed in me, and I can't wait to work alongside such talented student-athletes as they pursue excellence both in the gym and in the classroom. I'm looking forward to building meaningful relationships, contributing to the team's success, and helping create an environment where our athletes can grow with confidence, compete at a high level, and enjoy the journey together. I am proud to become part of the Redbird family and excited for what lies ahead."

Last year at Ohio State, Curtis worked alongside head coach Meredith Paulicivic on Beam and Floor with the Buckeyes. In that role, she played a critical role in assisting the team to achieve strong scores, including an impressive 197.150, and the season cumulated in the Buckeyes being ranked No. 16 in the nation. Beyond her responsibilities in the gym, Curtis also assumed the role of Director of Operations, where she helped plan travel and meals for the team during their various trips. 

Prior to her role with the Buckeyes, Curtis spent two years on the coaching staff at SUNY Brockport from 2023-2025. She working primarily coaching Beam, where she mentored a Regional Champion and Co-National Champion. While with the Golden Eagles, she also helped organize team events and oversaw getting meals together during travel, organizing team apparel and taking over the social media for the team. 

During her collegiate career at Nebraska (2017-2022), Curtis started as a preferred walk-on for the Huskers and ended up earning a scholarship my during her junior year as a consistent contributor in Vault, Beam and Floor. She contributed to the Huskers' success, scoring a 9.875 on Vault at the Big Ten Championships in 2021. Curtis also posted a career high score of 9.950 on Beam in a dual against Iowa, and a 9.900 on Floor in the same meet.

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