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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) – Illinois women’s gymnastics has its next head coach, and it’s a familiar face to the program.
Josh Nilson is being promoted to head coach after two seasons as associate head coach for the Illini, Illinois Athletics announced on Tuesday.
Nilson was the head coach at Temple University before coming to Champaign.
The news comes after Illinois announced plans to move on from Nadalie Walsh after eight seasons.
“For the last two years, Josh Nilson has been a highly influential presence in our gym, and he received an outpouring of support throughout this process from team members, recruits, and others across the national gymnastics community,” Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman said in a statement from Illinois Athletics. “From our first conversation, Josh’s enthusiasm for our program and bold vision for its future were immediately apparent. I want to thank Josh, his wife, Amanda, and their family for trusting us and believing in the University of Illinois.”
He lead the Temple Owls for five seasons. Before that, Nilson made stops at the United States Air Force Academy, Utah State, Texas Woman’s University and Penn State.
Nilson is a native of Cache Valley, Utah.