Bob Starkell - Assistant Coach - Women's Gymnastics Coaches

Bob Starkell

Title:
Assistant Coach
Email:
rmstarke@ncsu.edu
Phone:
(919) 215-5215

Bob Starkell enters his 15th season as an assistant coach for NC State gymnastics in the 2025-26 season, focusing primarily on the uneven parallel bars. Starkell has enjoyed a successful tenure in Raleigh after being named to his position with the Wolfpack on September 12, 2011.

Starkell comes off a 2025 campaign in which he helped guide the Pack to its 34th consecutive NCAA Regional appearance, with the team finishing the season ranked No. 20 in the country and No. 23 on bars. Throughout the year, he coached three gymnasts to scores of at least 9.900 in the event.

In 2024, alongside the rest of the coaching staff, Starkell helped lead the Wolfpack to both the ACC regular season and championship titles, as well as an NCAA Tournament appearance. That season, NC State recorded the second and third highest scores in program history, a 197.575 against Clemson on February 17 and a 197.550 at the ACC Championship on March 23. In the win over the Tigers, the team recorded its season best bars score with a 49.950. Additionally in 2024, three members of the Pack earned spots on the All-ACC bars squad.

During the 2023 season, two members of the Pack earned First Team All-EAGL honors on bars under Starkell’s guidance. The team posted its highest bars score of the season with a 49.225 against Rutgers on March 4. EAGL Gymnast of the Year Emily Shepard notched two 9.925s on the event, while All Around Champion Lex Ortega scored a 9.900 twice during the campaign.

Starkell guided a trio of NC State gymnasts to All EAGL honors on bars in 2022, including two First Team selections. He led the bars squad to a school record 49.450, and under his leadership, Carina Jordan and Lauren Rutherford posted top five scores in program history on the apparatus with Jordan earning a 9.950 and Rutherford attaining a 9.925.

In 2021, Starkell coached three gymnasts to First Team All-EAGL honors on bars and led the Wolfpack to multiple top ten marks in the NC State record book. Starkell helped guide the team into the top 25 national rankings on bars at the end of the regular season, its highest finish in over 20 years.

In his ninth season with the Wolfpack, Starkell was named the 2020 EAGL Assistant Coach of the Year along with fellow assistant coach Philip Ogletree. The duo also earned the honor in 2019.

In 2020, Starkell led NC State to five First Team All-EAGL honors on bars and was the only team in the conference to finish the season with an NQS above 49.000. The Pack ended the year ranked No. 25 nationally on bars.

During the 2019 campaign, Starkell guided Wolfpack gymnasts to nine bars titles and four scores of 9.900. The team’s 49.200 performance against North Carolina ranks among the top 20 scores in school history. Starkell was named the 2019 EAGL Assistant Coach of the Year with Philip Ogletree.

In 2018, Starkell guided Maggie Tamburro and Chelsea Knight to First Team All EAGL honors on bars. Lauren Kent and Caitlyn Fillard were named to the Second Team, and four Wolfpack gymnasts earned spots on the All EAGL Tournament Team on bars.

In 2016, he helped the Pack close the regular season with a season best 49.275 on bars in a home meet against Ball State, the eighth highest team score in program history. Brittni Watkins recorded a career best 9.900 to win the event, earning First Team All EAGL honors under Starkell’s guidance. Chelsea Knight and Nicole Wild received Second Team honors, and Starkell also helped Watkins qualify for NCAA Regionals as an all around competitor. NC State finished the season with a 48.985 RQS on bars, ranking 30th nationally.

In 2015, Starkell coached Watkins to All EAGL First Team recognition on bars with a 9.830 RQS, which ranked sixth in the conference. He also helped Watkins and Michaela Woodford qualify for the NCAA Championships as individuals. That season, the Pack posted 20 scores of 9.800 or higher on bars. Hannah Sobhan recorded a team high 9.875 in a meet at Texas Womans, and NC State earned its season best bars score of 49.100 in a tri meet against George Washington and William and Mary.

In 2014, Brittni Watkins and Stephanie Ouellette earned All EAGL First Team honors on the uneven bars, while Kristen Harabedian was named to the Second Team. The Wolfpack recorded a season best 48.875 on bars, highlighted by a 9.925 from Ouellette in her final home meet against New Hampshire.

In 2013, Rachel Fincham earned All EAGL First Team honors on bars for the third time in her career, and Ouellette was named to the Second Team. Fincham finished the season ranked second in the EAGL and tied for 11th in the Southeast Region. NC State notched a season high 49.100 on bars at the Sweetheart Invitational and totaled 21 routines that scored 9.800 or better, including a 9.900 from Fincham against Georgia.

In 2012, Starkell guided Fincham to a first place finish at NCAA Regionals, advancing her to the NCAA Championships. The Wolfpack led the conference in regional qualifying average on bars with a 48.960. Two NC State gymnasts earned All EAGL First and Second Team honors on the event. The Pack posted a season best 49.225 on bars against Kent State and recorded 30 scores of 9.800 or better, including Fincham’s 9.900 at NCAA Regionals and against BYU.

In 2010, Starkell was named Co Big Ten Coach of the Year for the second straight season after guiding his squad to a No. 16 final national ranking, marking the fifth consecutive year the Illini finished in the top 25 nationally.

Starkell's most notable achievements came in 2009. He was named National Coach of the Year and promoted to Director of Gymnastics at Illinois, overseeing both the men's and women's programs.

Under his leadership, Illinois produced four All Americans, five Big Ten champions, 22 All Big Ten selections, 51 Scholastic All Americans, and 91 Academic All Big Ten honorees.
Prior to becoming head coach, Starkell spent six years as an assistant at Illinois. In 1998, he was named Central Regional Assistant Coach of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches for Women.

Before his time at Illinois, Starkell coached at Wisconsin Oshkosh while completing his bachelor's degree. He was named head coach of both the men's and women's programs in 1993 after earning a B.S. in physical education.

In addition to his collegiate experience, Starkell coached youth athletes at Oshkosh Gymnastics Club and spent five years coaching at the International Gymnastics School in Pennsylvania.