North Carolina State University Athletics
Johnson, Starkell Named EAGL Assistant Coaches Of The Year
3/17/2016 7:27:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics
Both have played a vital role in the Pack’s regular season success
EAGL Annual Awards Announcement
BALTIMORE- Associate Head Coach Colleen Johnson and Assistant Coach Bob Starkell have been named EAGL Assistant Coaches of the Year, announced by the office headquarters Friday as the league prepares for its conference championship at Pittsburgh Saturday.Â
This marks the first honor for both, as each have played a vital role in the Wolfpack's regular season success.Â
Johnson, who is in her second season at the associate head coach title, has guided the Pack on the balance beam this year to one of the highest team scores in program history. In its win at George Washington, NC State earned a mark of 49.300 which stands as the 10th-highest score in program history.Â
Under her tutelage, Johnson has helped several gymnasts notch career-best marks throughout the season, including Nicole Wild's 9.900 and Aubrey Hine and Michaela Woodford's 9.875's. Wild was recently named to first team All-EAGL on beam for her success on the event, while senior Brittni Watkins holds All-America honors on the event from her performance at the 2015 NCAA Championships.
She is also responsible for the team's choreography on floor, as the program has earned a handful of 9.900's or higher on the event throughout the season. Additionally, NC State holds a season best as a team of 49.225 on the rotation which came from its win over former No. 14 Nebraska and Wisconsin-La Crosse at Iowa State.Â
Last week Watkins earned first team All-EAGL honors and Woodford was named to second team on floor.
Johnson is currently in the sixth season of her second stint and 11th year as a member of the coaching staff, as she was an assistant coach at Arizona for six seasons between periods. This honor adds to her awards resume, as she is also a three-time NCAA Regional Assistant Coach of the Year (2003, 07, 12).
Starkell, who is in his fifth season with the Pack, works primarily with the uneven bars group. He helped the squad end the 2016 regular season with a season-best 49.275 in the Pack's home meet against Ball State, which marks the eighth-highest team score in Wolfpack history. Watkins tabbed her career best on bars in the team's meet in Raleigh as she earned a 9.900 to win the event.Â
Recently, NC State had three named to All-EAGL teams on bars, as Watkins was named to first team and Chelsea Knight and Wild earned second team honors.Â
This honor also adds to Starkell's list of awards, as he was named National Coach of the Year in 2009 and Big 10 Coach of the Year in '09 and '10 when he was at Illinois.Â
Players Mentioned
