Michigan State head coach Mike Rowe claps as gymnasts perform their floor routines during Michigan State’s meet against Brown at Jenison Field House in East Lansing, Mich., on Sunday, March 15, 2026.
Michigan State Athletics announced MSU gymnastics head coach Mike Rowe will remain in charge until 2029, the three-year contract extension coming at the close of a season that highlighted Rowe’s consistent excellency.
Rowe is completing his ninth year as head coach, throughout which he has earned a record of 159-101-1. The work he has done to turn the program around has led MSU to finish the season ranked within the top 15 every year since 2022, including a program best No. 6 last season.
"I would like to sincerely thank MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz and Director of Athletics J Batt for the opportunity, honor and privilege of extending my tenure with Michigan State gymnastics," Rowe said. "I am deeply grateful for the unwavering support from our administration, athletic department staff and all of Spartan Nation."
Rowe is a three-time Big Ten Coach of the Year, earning the title every year from 2022-24. He is also a two-time WCGA Central Region Coach of the Year and was named the WCGA National Coach of the Year in 2022.
The program has maintained a high standard of competition under Rowe’s guidance. The Spartans advanced to their fifth-straight NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearance and fifth-straight top-two finish at the Big Ten Championships.
Rowe led MSU to back-to-back Big Ten regular season titles in 2023 and 2024, as well as the 2024 Big Ten Championship title. Last season, the Spartans finished second in their NCAA Regional Final to advance to their second NCAA Championships in program history. It was also their first appearance since 1988.
"Under Mike Rowe's leadership, Michigan State has grown into one of the best women's gymnastics programs in both the Big Ten Conference and nationally," said MSU Director of Athletics J Batt. "The level of consistency over the last five seasons, including five NCAA Regional Finals appearances, two Big Ten regular-season titles and a Big Ten Championships crown, is remarkable. We are proud to continue to support Mike and the program as they strive for excellence."
Along with team consistency, Rowe has coached individual Spartans to the NCAA Championships for the fifth season in a row. Senior Sage Kellerman, senior Nikki Smith and junior Gabi Ortiz will all compete for glory next week.
This season, Kellerman won the Big Ten bars title to mark the 11th individual conference title won under Rowe. Additionally, Smith won an individual NCAA regional title on vault and shared the floor title with Ortiz. Four Spartans earned All-Big Ten honors this season to total 35 combined all-conference nods across Rowe's nine seasons. Additionally, individuals have won 19 WCGA All-America honors under Rowe.
"Together, we will continue to raise the standard, strengthen our culture and pursue greater prominence and success on the national stage,” Rowe said. “I am incredibly proud to be at my alma mater, coaching the sport I love while empowering our student-athletes to become the very best versions of themselves, both in competition and in life."
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