Release via EMU Athletics

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Eastern Michigan University Interim Vice President/Director of Athletics Erin Kido announced today, June 9, the hiring of Josh Nilson as the new women's gymnastics head coach at EMU. Nilson spent the past year working at Pennsylvania State University as both an assistant coach and the co-interim head coach, and has a total of 12 years of coaching experience.

"We are excited to welcome Josh, his wife, Amanda, and their sons to Ypsilanti," said Kido. "Beyond Josh's strong technical knowledge of the sport, he impressed us with a clear plan for elevating all aspects of our gymnastics program, most especially his commitment to the overall development of each student-athlete, both in and out of the gym."

We look forward to Josh's leadership in building on the positive momentum of these last few seasons.

Nilson arrives in Ypsilanti following a year-long stint at Penn State, where he started as an assistant coach before assuming co-interim head coach responsibilities in February. While with the Nittany Lions as co-interim head coach, Nilson saw the Nittany Lions jump from 45th in the nation to 31st in the final four competitions of the year, while qualifying two all-around competitors to the NCAA Championships. He was also nominated for Northeast Regional Co-Head Coach of the Year honors.

"I would like to thank Interim Athletics Director Erin Kido and the hiring committee for this great opportunity," added Nilson. "On my interview, I felt as if I had arrived home and I immediately believed that this would be a great fit for me and my family."

This is a unique opportunity to build upon the recent success of the Eastern Michigan Gymnastics program. I couldn't be more honored and thrilled to build upon that success with this team. I am anxious to get to work.

Additionally, Nilson served as the recruiting coordinator for Penn State, while also working to schedule future competitions. He was the team's primary coach on both uneven bars and vault, in addition to being the main spotter on all four events.

Prior to Penn State, Nilson worked as the primary assistant coach at Utah State University from 2013-16. There, he helped the program reach NCAA Regionals for three consecutive years after failing to qualify for the previous seven seasons. The team also had the highest vault average in program history, in addition to having the second highest bars average. In total, five of the top-10 vault scores in Utah State's history came in 2014.

Similar to his time at Penn State, Nilson was the recruiting coordinator, while also assisting with many other tasks, including compliance issues, handling meet officials, and overseeing the budget. He was also named the North Central Co-Assistant Coach of the Year in both 2014 and 2015.

Before working at Utah State, Nilson had a two-year long stint at Texas Women's University, where he was an assistant coach and was named the 2012 USAG Collegiate National Assistant Coach of the Year, as well as the 2012 Midwest Independent Conference Assistant Coach of the Year. At the USAG Collegiate Nationals, Nilson saw a pair of second-place team finishes in 2012 and 2013, along with also coaching the 2012 USAG Collegiate bars champion. Additionally, he sent a pair of gymnasts to NCAA Regionals in 2013, and a trio in 2012.
    
Nilson got his coaching start at Utah State, where he was the second assistant coach from 2008-11. Within that time frame, the Aggies sent five gymnasts to NCAA Regionals in 2009 and 2011, while also sending three in 2010. Prior to being an assistant coach, he was a student coach from 2005 - 2008, serving as the main spotter on all four events, in addition to assisting the uneven bars coach.

Nilson is a graduate of Utah State University, earning a bachelor's degree in law and constitutional studies in 2010.

Nilson and his wife, Amanda, have four sons, Tristan (8), Ezekiel (5), Remington (3),and Liam (1).