Pitt Gymnastics Welcomes Samantha Snider As New Head Coach
Pitt Gymnastics Welcomes Samantha Snider As New Head Coach
Samantha Snider has been named the head coach of the University of Pittsburgh gymnastics team, as announced by Director of Athletics Heather Lyke Monday afternoon.
Release via Pitt Athletics
PITTSBURGH -- Samantha Snider has been named the head coach of the University of Pittsburgh gymnastics team, as announced by Director of Athletics Heather Lyke Monday afternoon.
Snider becomes the third head coach in the history of the gymnastics program at Pitt, stepping into her first head coaching role after spending the previous nine seasons at the University of Arkansas.
"We are thrilled to welcome Samantha Snider as the next head women's gymnastics coach of the University of Pittsburgh," said Lyke.
A former student-athlete and 2008 graduate of the University of Arkansas, Snider was promoted to associate head coach at Arkansas in August of 2016 after spending three seasons as an assistant coach and two seasons as the assistant head coach. Additionally, she served as the director of operations for the Razorbacks from 2009-11.
"I want to thank Heather and the entire athletic department for this opportunity," added Snider.
At Arkansas, Snider served as the choreographer for both balance beam and floor exercise and was the on-the-floor coach for the balance beam.
Snider graduated from Arkansas in 2008 with a bachelor's degree in psychology, moving on to earn her master's in clinical mental health counseling in 2011. As a student-athlete with the Razorbacks from 2004-08, she helped the program earn four bids to an NCAA Regional, and was a member of the program's first two NCAA Championship appearances in 2006 and 2008. In her four seasons, the Razorbacks were ranked in the top 15 at the conclusion of each year, earning a top-10 finish in her senior campaign.
A three-time SEC Academic Honor roll honoree, she ranks ninth in Arkansas' all-time record books on both vault (9.925) and floor (9.925).
A native of Verona, N.J., she is married to Ryan Snider.
Snider takes over a Pitt gymnastics program that has seen significant growth, capturing an East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) title in 2016, its first-ever conference crown. In 2017, the Panthers claimed a victory over nationally-ranked West Virginia and saw a pair of gymnasts qualify to the regional meet.
PITTSBURGH -- Samantha Snider has been named the head coach of the University of Pittsburgh gymnastics team, as announced by Director of Athletics Heather Lyke Monday afternoon.
Snider becomes the third head coach in the history of the gymnastics program at Pitt, stepping into her first head coaching role after spending the previous nine seasons at the University of Arkansas.
"We are thrilled to welcome Samantha Snider as the next head women's gymnastics coach of the University of Pittsburgh," said Lyke.
Samantha is a dynamic leader who is full of passion and committed to building our gymnastics program the right way."As a former gymnast at Arkansas and current associate head coach, she will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to our program. She has been instrumental in building Arkansas into a nationally prominent program and is excited to bring her experiences to our program here at Pitt. We look forward to the positive impact she is going to have on our student-athletes' lives here at Pitt."
A former student-athlete and 2008 graduate of the University of Arkansas, Snider was promoted to associate head coach at Arkansas in August of 2016 after spending three seasons as an assistant coach and two seasons as the assistant head coach. Additionally, she served as the director of operations for the Razorbacks from 2009-11.
"I want to thank Heather and the entire athletic department for this opportunity," added Snider.
I am honored to be the new head coach for the University of Pittsburgh gymnastics program. I am excited to build on the success of the program and I am eager to get started. I look forward to being on campus with the team and preparing for the upcoming season. Hail to Pitt!The 2016 NACGC/W South Central Region Assistant Coach of the Year, Snider has helped guide the Razorbacks to five straight NCAA Regional appearances from 2012-16, three NCAA Session II appearances and one NCAA Super Six appearance. She has mentored six NCAA individual event finalists and 14 NCAA All-Americans, including nine first teamers.
At Arkansas, Snider served as the choreographer for both balance beam and floor exercise and was the on-the-floor coach for the balance beam.
Snider graduated from Arkansas in 2008 with a bachelor's degree in psychology, moving on to earn her master's in clinical mental health counseling in 2011. As a student-athlete with the Razorbacks from 2004-08, she helped the program earn four bids to an NCAA Regional, and was a member of the program's first two NCAA Championship appearances in 2006 and 2008. In her four seasons, the Razorbacks were ranked in the top 15 at the conclusion of each year, earning a top-10 finish in her senior campaign.
A three-time SEC Academic Honor roll honoree, she ranks ninth in Arkansas' all-time record books on both vault (9.925) and floor (9.925).
A native of Verona, N.J., she is married to Ryan Snider.
Snider takes over a Pitt gymnastics program that has seen significant growth, capturing an East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) title in 2016, its first-ever conference crown. In 2017, the Panthers claimed a victory over nationally-ranked West Virginia and saw a pair of gymnasts qualify to the regional meet.