Eastern Michigan University DigitalCommons@EMU Sports Scores University Archives Winter 4-8-2014 EMU Women's Gymnastics: Longtime Gymnastics Coach Steve Wilce Announces Retirement Eastern Michigan University Follow this and additional works at: http://commons.emich.edu/sports_scr Recommended Citation Eastern Michigan University, "EMU Women's Gymnastics: Longtime Gymnastics Coach Steve Wilce Announces Retirement" (2014). Eastern Michigan University, Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. EMU Archives, Digital Commons @ EMU (http://commons.emich.edu/sports_scr/583) This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the University Archives at DigitalCommons@EMU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Sports Scores by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@EMU. For more information, please contact lib-ir@emich.edu.
Longtime Gymnastics Coach Steve Wilce Announces Retirement For his career, Wilce produced 22 Mid-American Conference individual champions 4/8/2014 9:00:00 AM YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) Eastern Michigan University Head Gymnastics Coach Steve Wilce, one of the longest tenured coaches in the history of intercollegiate athletics at EMU, has announced his retirement effective July 1, 2014. Wilce's name is synonymous with Eastern Michigan gymnastics as his involvement with the program spans more than three decades. Leading the program the
past 32 seasons, he compiled a 228-222 record and is the winningest coach in EMU gymnastics history. For his career, Wilce produced 22 Mid-American Conference individual champions, three MAC Gymnasts of the Year and a 2007 MAC team championship. His peers in the MAC recognized him three times as the MAC Coach of Year, in 1987, 1989 and 1992. "Thirty-two years, that's a long time, but looking back on it, it doesn't seem like a long time at all, something you love to do every day, so it was never a job," Wilce said. "Thank you to all my co-workers, assistant coaches and especially the student-athletes who over the years have given so much of themselves to make our success possible. I would also like to thank my wife, daughters, family and friends for always being there for me." Several individual athletes have excelled under his tutelage, including the gymnast regarded as the best in EMU history, Natalie Hashimoto. During her career at EMU, she became the first gymnast to win the MAC Freshman of the Year award (2000), two-consecutive MAC Gymnast of the Year honors (2001 and 2002) and MAC Senior Gymnast of the Year award (2003). Six of his gymnasts have earned the MAC Senior Gymnast of the Year award: Jolene Worley (2008), Hashimoto (2003), Kim Miller (1997), Jodi Fosberg (1995), Robin Loheide(1993) and Allyson Newman (1992). Wilce has also coached a number of MAC Freshmen of the Year, including J.J. Cullom in 1997, Rebecca Fuss in 2004, Worley in 2005, and Duyen Zu Vuong in 2006. "Steve has been a devoted staff member of this department for a long time, and I cannot thank him enough for everything he has done for EMU Athletics," said EMU Vice President/Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Heather Lyke. "He has always put the student-athletes first, making lasting impacts on countless people associated with our gymnastics program. We thank Steve for the way in which he represented EMU with class." His athletes have also been recognized for their performances in the classroom as well. In 2013, the Eagles had 12 gymnasts named to the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches/Women (NACGC/W) scholar-athlete team. Additionally, Wilce's Eagles notched double-digits in the number of Academic All- Americans in each of the past 12 seasons. Also since that time, Eastern Michigan gymnastics has produced more Academic All-Americans than any other school in the country, an impressive feat of both academics and athletics. The 58-year-old Wilce began his term at Eastern Michigan after serving as the assistant gymnastics coach at Eastern Kentucky University from 1974-79 and again in 1981-82. The 1982 squad won the AIAW Region II title, while the 1979 and 1981 teams finished second. The 1979 team also finished 14th in the nation. In 1980, Wilce was an assistant at the University of Massachusetts, where the Minutemen finished third at the AIAW Region I Championship. Wilce received his bachelor's degree in physical education from Eastern Kentucky University in 1979 and a master's degree in sports administration in 1981. A national search will be conducted for the program's third head coach.
The Steve Wilce File Name: Steve Wilce College: Eastern Kentucky University - Bachelor's degree in physical education - 1979 Eastern Kentucky University - Master's degree in sports administration - 1981 Family: Wife-Devvon; Childen - Danilyn, Deming and Denae Coaching Experience Year School Record MAC Champ. Finish Honors 2014 Eastern Michigan University 6-9, 2-4 MAC 6th 1 First Team All-MAC 2013 Eastern Michigan University 5-10, 0-6 MAC 6th 1 NCAA Regional qualifier 2012 Eastern Michigan University 10-9, 2-4 MAC t-5th 9 earn MAC Academic Honors 2011 Eastern Michigan University 4-10, 2-4 MAC 6th 1 All-MAC 2010 Eastern Michigan University 7-9, 2-4 MAC 3rd 2 earn NCAA Regional bids 2009 Eastern Michigan University 6-10, 3-3 MAC 5th 2 earn NCAA Regional bids 2008 Eastern Michigan University 11-5, 3-3 MAC 2nd MAC Gymnast of the Year 2007 Eastern Michigan University 10-8, 3-3 MAC 1st MAC Champs/All-Around Champ. 2006 Eastern Michigan University 8-7, 3-3 MAC 4th MAC Freshman of the Year 2005 Eastern Michigan University 9-8; 3-3 MAC 6th MAC Freshman of the Year 2004 Eastern Michigan University 4-11 2-4 MAC 3rd MAC Freshman of the Year 2003 Eastern Michigan University 6-10, 2-4 MAC 3rd 2002 Eastern Michigan University 15-9, 3-3 MAC 4th MAC Gymnast of the Year
2001 Eastern Michigan University 10-6; 4-2 MAC 3rd MAC Gymnast of the Year 2000 Eastern Michigan University 5-7; 1-5 MAC 6th MAC Freshman of the Year 1999 Eastern Michigan University 4-6; 2-4 MAC 6th 1998 Eastern Michigan University 2-5; 1-5 MAC 6th MAC Beam co-champ. 1997 Eastern Michigan University 6-2; 6-1 MAC 3rd MAC Freshman of the Year 1996 Eastern Michigan University 8-4; 5-1 MAC 4th MAC Beam/Floor Champ. 1995 Eastern Michigan University 8-3; 5-2 MAC 3rd 1994 Eastern Michigan University 7-5; 1-3 MAC 4th 1993 Eastern Michigan University 4-2; 2-3 MAC 2nd MAC Beam/Floor/AA Champ. 1992 Eastern Michigan University 8-2; 5-0 MAC 2nd MAC Coach of the Year/AA Champ. 1991 Eastern Michigan University 11-2; 4-1 MAC 5th MAC Bars/All-Around Champ. 1990 Eastern Michigan University 13-2; 5-2 MAC 3rd 1989 Eastern Michigan University 11-3; 4-2 MAC 5th MAC Floor Champ. 1988 Eastern Michigan University 4-9; 0-4 MAC 5th MAC Vault co-champ. 1987 Eastern Michigan University 7-6; 3-2 MAC 3rd Coach of the Year/MAC Bars Champ. 1986 Eastern Michigan University 8-5; 2-3 MAC 4th MAC Beam/Vault/All-Around Champ. 1985 Eastern Michigan University 2-14; 1-4 MAC 4th MAC Vault/All-Around Champ. 1984 Eastern Michigan University 2-18; 1-4 MAC 5th
1983 Eastern Michigan University 7-6, 3-2 MAC 3rd MAC Bars Champ. Career Record: 228-222 (85-99 MAC)