Kendra Combs joined the Women’s Gymnastics staff as an Assistant Coach in the fall of 2023 and is entering her second season as a member of the Redbird coaching staff. Combs is the primary vault coach and choreographer for the Redbirds and assists with coaching bars.

In 2024, The Redbirds’ vault team scored 49+ six times, including a season high of a 49.325. At the MIC Conference Championships, the Redbirds took the vault title, led by Angelica Labat’s 9.875, along with two other top 3 finishes from Jaye Mack and Madison Kipp. Combs helped coach two individuals, Mack and Labat, to qualify for the NCAA Ann Arbor Regional Championships. In total, 18 Redbirds earned All-MIC honors, including 5 on vault. The season posted both the highest average (195.402) and the highest NQS (195.91) in program history.

Before coming to Illinois State, Combs studied and competed at West Virginia University. She capped off her stellar career at WVU with nearly 1,500 career points scored. In her final season, Combs was a consistent competitor on bars, beam and floor while helping the team to the 2023 NCAA Regional Second Round. In 2022, Combs led the team in total points and was a NCAA Regional Championships individual qualifier on floor after earning All-Big 12 honors in the all-around. An Academic All-Big 12 First Team selection, Combs tallied 21 podium finishes, including 11 event wins, to pace the squad and earned new career-best totals on vault, bars, floor and the all-around. At WVU, she completed her Bachelor's degree in Business and holds a Master's degree in Sport Coaching.