LEXINGTON, Ky. ? Jackie McCarter, former Olympic Gymnastics Force coach and independent consultant, was named assistant gymnastics coach at the University of Kentucky, head coach Mo Muhammad announced.
?Jackie brings a plethora of experience along with enormous accomplishments in the areas we need the most help,? said Muhammad. ?I am honored to have her on our staff.?
McCarter joins the UK gymnastics coaching staff with over 20 years of coaching experience at the Level 10, Optional and Elite Levels. Her strengths on beam and floor will help UK gymnastics perform solid routines and secure high scores in the coming years.
?With her experience we will be more polished and consistent,? said Muhammad. ?I believe that will help advance our program to the level of other top programs in the country.?
During her 20 years of coaching, McCarter has seen 27 of her gymnasts move on to compete at the collegiate level. Six of those athletes have competed or are currently competing at the University of Kentucky. McCarter has also had the opportunity to coach numerous athletes on the national, international and Olympic scene. Gymnasts such as Kim Zmeskal, Hillary Grivich and Dominique Moceanu have prospered under McCarter?s direction.
Since 1988, McCarter has used her knowledge of the floor exercise and balance beam to work as an independent consultant. McCarter has helped prepare athletes for Level 10, Optional and Elite Level competitions for numerous clubs. As a consultant, she has traveled throughout the United States to advise coaches on how to prepare their athletes for higher level competitions.
Most recently, McCarter acted as a coach and mentor with the Olympic Gymnastics Force. At Olympic McCarter choreographed floor and beam routines for gymnasts at the Optional Level, while also working to strengthen gymnasts Optional Level performances to the Elite Level.
From 1996-2002, McCarter was a part of the coaching staff at Brown?s Gymnastics where she coached for six years with Alexander Alexandrov, the former head coach of the Russian National Team. While at Brown?s, McCarter helped coach such gymnasts as Mohini Bahardwaj, a USA National Team member, and Eileen Diaz, a Puerto Rican National Champion. In her six years at Brown?s McCarter took 12 gymnasts to the Level 10 Nationals representing Region 3. Her gymnasts garnered two first-place AA titles, while taking first on every event. At the Elite Copa Cup in Monterey, Mexico, McCarter?s gymnasts once again swept every event and took home top honors as a team.
The early 90?s brought McCarter to Gizi Gymnastics in Houston where she took numerous gymnastics to Level 10 Nationals. During her three-year tenure at Gizi?s, McCarter formed a bond with UK Head Coach Mo Muhammad as the pair coached gymnasts at the Optional and Elite Levels.
?Having worked with Jackie before, the adjustment period will be quicker, and we know each others strengths and weaknesses,? said Muhammad.
In 1984, the Long Beach, Calif., native moved to Houston, Texas, where she had the opportunity to coach alongside Bela and Marta Karolyi. At Karolyi?s Gymnastics, McCarter helped coach gymnasts from the Optional Level to the Elite Level in the United States and internationally for seven years.
From 1982-84, McCarter had her first opportunity to get involved with and learn about the Optional Program through USA Gymnastics in Huntington Beach, Calif.
McCarter is married to Blair McCarter III and has two children, son William (Blair) IV and daughter Emily Daniel McCarter. The family resides in Lexington.
