Arizona Gymnastics Hires Kendra Combs as Assistant Coach
09/04/2026 | Gymnastics
TUCSON, Ariz. – Arizona Gymnastics head coach John Court has announced that Kendra Combs has been hired as the program's third assistant coach. Combs will join Julie Ballard Clark and Emma Strom as assistant coaches.
"I am very excited to welcome Kendra to Tucson," Court said. "She brings a skilled background as a former All-Big 12 gymnast at West Virginia and three years as an assistant coach at Illinois State coaching their vault and bar teams. She has a reputation for recognizing talent and her presence will benefit our program."
Combs comes to Arizona following three years at Illinois State where she was the lead vault coach, co-lead bars coach, and assisted on beam and floor for the Redbirds. During her time at Illinois State, she led the vault squad to having an NQS of above a 49.0 in the 2024 and 2025 seasons and became the sole lead bar coach and assisted on the other three events during the 2026 season. Under her leadership, four individuals qualified for Regionals on their respective events and she helped lead the Redbirds to the 2025 MIC Conference Championship.
"I am so grateful for the opportunity to join the University of Arizona and become part of such a special program," Combs said. "I'm excited to work alongside an outstanding staff to continue building on the program's tradition of excellence and elevating it to the highest level. I look forward to supporting our athletes as they grow and develop into the best versions of themselves, both inside and outside of the gym. It is an honor to be part of the Wildcat family, and I'm excited to contribute to the continued growth, success, and excellence of this program."
Before her time at Illinois State, Combs was a gymnast for West Virginia where she completed her bachelor's degree in business and a master's in sport coaching. At WVU, she was a consistent competitor on bars, beam, and floor while helping the 2023 team to the NCAA Regional Second Round. Combs competed in a program-record 60 total meets during her career at West Virginia and holds career high scores of 9.85 on vault, 9.90 on bars, 9.925 on beam, 9.95 on floor, and 39.325 in the all-around.
"I am very excited to welcome Kendra to Tucson," Court said. "She brings a skilled background as a former All-Big 12 gymnast at West Virginia and three years as an assistant coach at Illinois State coaching their vault and bar teams. She has a reputation for recognizing talent and her presence will benefit our program."
Combs comes to Arizona following three years at Illinois State where she was the lead vault coach, co-lead bars coach, and assisted on beam and floor for the Redbirds. During her time at Illinois State, she led the vault squad to having an NQS of above a 49.0 in the 2024 and 2025 seasons and became the sole lead bar coach and assisted on the other three events during the 2026 season. Under her leadership, four individuals qualified for Regionals on their respective events and she helped lead the Redbirds to the 2025 MIC Conference Championship.
"I am so grateful for the opportunity to join the University of Arizona and become part of such a special program," Combs said. "I'm excited to work alongside an outstanding staff to continue building on the program's tradition of excellence and elevating it to the highest level. I look forward to supporting our athletes as they grow and develop into the best versions of themselves, both inside and outside of the gym. It is an honor to be part of the Wildcat family, and I'm excited to contribute to the continued growth, success, and excellence of this program."
Before her time at Illinois State, Combs was a gymnast for West Virginia where she completed her bachelor's degree in business and a master's in sport coaching. At WVU, she was a consistent competitor on bars, beam, and floor while helping the 2023 team to the NCAA Regional Second Round. Combs competed in a program-record 60 total meets during her career at West Virginia and holds career high scores of 9.85 on vault, 9.90 on bars, 9.925 on beam, 9.95 on floor, and 39.325 in the all-around.
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