Nebraska Begins Search for New Women's Gymnastics Coach

Heather Brink's contract will not be renewed after 8 seasons as head coach.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 10:33pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting a women's gymnastics competition, with sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in vibrant colors representing the dynamic movements and competitive energy of the sport.The search for a new head coach aims to reinvigorate Nebraska's women's gymnastics program and return it to national prominence.Lincoln Today

Nebraska Athletics announced that it will begin searching for a new head coach for the women's gymnastics program following the departure of head coach Heather Brink. Brink's contract will not be renewed once it expires on June 30, and Nebraska will pay the remainder of her contract.

Why it matters

The Nebraska women's gymnastics program has struggled in recent years, failing to advance past the NCAA Regional second round since Brink took over as head coach in 2019. The university is looking to find a new leader who can elevate the program back to being a Big Ten and national contender.

The details

Nebraska finished the 2026 season last weekend with a fourth-place finish in the NCAA regional second round in Baton Rouge. The Huskers also finished 12th at the Big Ten Championships last month. In her eight seasons as head coach, Brink led the team to their best season in 2019, when they finished third at the Big Ten Championships and second in an NCAA Super Regional. However, Nebraska has not advanced past the second round of the NCAA Regionals in the past four years, with their highest conference finish over the last six seasons being sixth in 2022.

  • Brink's contract will not be renewed once it expires on June 30, 2026.
  • Nebraska finished the 2026 season last weekend with a fourth-place finish in the NCAA regional second round.
  • The Huskers finished 12th at the Big Ten Championships last month.

The players

Heather Brink

The outgoing head coach of the Nebraska women's gymnastics program, who has led the team for the past 8 seasons.

Troy Dannen

The Athletic Director at the University of Nebraska, who announced the change in leadership for the women's gymnastics program.

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What they’re saying

“I want to thank Heather Brink for her service to our women's gymnastics program and Husker Athletics. Heather has a great history here as a student-athlete, an assistant coach and as head coach, and she will always be known as one of the greatest Huskers. Moving forward, we will look for the right individual to build on the foundation Heather has put in place and elevate our program back to being a Big Ten and national contender.”

— Troy Dannen, Athletic Director, University of Nebraska

What’s next

Nebraska has contracted with Elevate College to assist with the search for the program's next head coach.

The takeaway

The change in leadership for the Nebraska women's gymnastics program signals the university's desire to find a new coach who can help the team regain its status as a Big Ten and national contender after several seasons of underperformance under Heather Brink's tenure.