Former Titan Named Head Coach At University of Illinois

Former UW-Oshkosh student-athlete and head coach Nadalie Walsh has been named the new head women's gymnastics coach at NCAA Division I University of Illinois.

Walsh moves to the University of Illinois after four years at the helm of Utah State University women's gymnastics program, where she guided the Aggies to four consecutive NCAA Division I Regional appearances.

"We are pleased to welcome Nadalie Walsh to the Fighting Illini family," University of Illinois Director of Athletics Josh Whitman said. "Her record of success at Utah State, including four NCAA Regional appearances in four seasons, and her history of developing strong programs at Ball State and Wisconsin-Oshkosh were what attracted us to her initially. After getting to know her better throughout the search process, however, it is her competitive drive, personal humility, and student-centered approach that will make her a great fit at the University of Illinois."

Prior to Utah State University, Walsh spent six seasons as the head coach at Ball State University (Ind.), where she coached six different gymnasts to the NCAA regional championships, as well as four Mid-American Conference individual event champions.

Before taking the position at Ball State University, Walsh spent four years (2004-07) as UW-Oshkosh's head coach. In 2007, her final season at UW-Oshkosh, Walsh led the Titans to the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) championship. It was UW-Oshkosh's second NCGA national title and the first since 1989.

Walsh was named the 2006 NCGA Coach of the Year and the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletics Conference Coach of the Year in both 2005 and 2006.

"I am truly honored to be selected as the new head coach for the Fighting Illini women's gymnastics program," Walsh said. "I cannot thank Director of Athletics Josh Whitman and Senior Associate AD/SWA Maria Ochoa Woods enough for entrusting me with the incredible opportunity and responsibility of leading this prestigious program. From the first moment I met Josh, I was immediately impressed with his character, demeanor and especially the positive atmosphere he has created within his department." 

Before becoming UW-Oshkosh's head coach, Walsh was an assistant coach for the Titans from 2001-03. She helped UW-Oshkosh to a second-place finish at the NCGA Championship in 2001.

A native of Kewaskum, Wis., Walsh earned her bachelor's degree in exercise science and fitness from UW-Oshkosh in 2000. She competed for the school's women's gymnastics team from 1998-2000. Walsh and her husband, Victor, have three children Aiden, Ireland and Valient.

Walsh is the second former UW-Oshkosh student-athlete and head coach to lead the University of Illinois women's gymnastics program. Bob Starkell, who coached the UW-Oshkosh women's gymnastics team in 1993, guided the University of Illinois from 2000-10. Starkell was a member of the UW-Oshkosh men's gymnastics team from 1987-90.

Courtesy of University of Illinois Sports Information