Eastern Michigan Athletics
Jay Santos Leaves Position as EMU Women’s Gymnastics Coach
5/27/2016 3:30:00 PM | Gymnastics
Search begins for the program's fourth full-time head coach
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Eastern Michigan University Vice President/Director of Athletics Heather Lyke announced Friday, May 27, that Head Women's Gymnastics Coach Jay Santos has accepted a similar position at Arizona State University.
"We are incredibly proud of both Jay and his wife Jessica as they did an exceptional job building our gymnastics team in their short time at EMU," Lyke stated. "We wish them all the best in the future. Coach Santos leaves our gymnastics program in tremendous standing, as our student-athletes will continue to compete for Mid-American Conference championships and postseason opportunities in the coming years."
In two seasons at the helm of the women's gymnastics program, Santos oversaw incredible improvements in each season. He took over the program on June 27, 2014, and compiled a record of 28-8-1, including an 8-4 Mid-American Conference mark. In his first season leading the Green and White, Santos guided the team to a 13-5 overall record while being named MAC Coach of the Year. Additionally, the 13 wins tied the team record for most wins in a season. This past season, the Eagles blossomed under his leadership, amassing a 15-3-1 record en route to capturing EMU's second-ever MAC Championship and an NCAA Regionals berth for the first time in EMU history.
"Our time at Eastern Michigan may have been brief, but we were able to accomplish some amazing things in a short time and take this program to new heights," remarked Santos. "I am incredibly proud of the transformation that the team made in just two years and it has been a tremendously rewarding experience. This team is an amazing group of young women and the success we had was due to their commitment, sacrifice and hard work; so I have no doubt that they will continue their success in the future. I want to deeply thank Heather for the opportunity to be a part of the Eastern family and for her support of the program over these last two seasons. Her outstanding leadership; along with Senior Women's Administrator Erin Kido and the rest of the senior administration is a big part of why this program was able to thrive and why the future is so bright for Eastern Michigan Gymnastics and the department as a whole. I would also like to thank the student-athletes families, gymnastics alumni and the EMU students and community for their incredible support in our time here. Go Eagles!"
The 2016 season was a banner year for the team under Santos, including a sensational regular season. The team defeated Big Ten Conference opponent Maryland twice, while also tying Ohio State. Additionally, the Green and White compiled a MAC record of 5-1, which was the most MAC wins by the Eagles since 1997. EMU took home runner-up honors for the regular season MAC title with victories over Ball State, Northern Illinois, Bowling Green, Western Michigan, and Central Michigan. As a team, the Eagles broke the team single meet record in three consecutive meets, culminating in the team's highest score ever. Beginning with a home victory over Central Michigan, Feb. 5, in which the team notched a 195.600, Eastern then nabbed a 195.975 on the road at Michigan, Feb. 8. The team's best meet ever came the following weekend on the road at Bowling Green, where the Green and White erupted for a huge 196.600.
Heading into the postseason, the Eagles looked primed for a run at the conference title. At the MAC Championships, the team excelled, taking home their second MAC title in program history, the first being in 2007. Eastern finished with a 196.425, in large part due to fantastic beam and floor rotations. Specifically, the team set a program record on beam with a 49.325, while the squad also posted three 9.9's on floor. From there, the team traveled to Ann Arbor for NCAA Regionals, where they once again impressed, finishing fourth with a score of 196.250. In the Crisler Center, the Green and White more than held their own against some of the top teams in the nation, finishing just .275 away from tying first-place Stanford and Auburn. In fact, after two rotations, the Eagles were tied for first-place in the talented field. Finally, sophomore Rachel Slocum (Holly Springs, N.C.-Holly Springs) earned a berth to the NCAA Championships, which was just the second in EMU history.
Individually, EMU was equally as successful. On vault, sophomore Kendall Valentin (Holmdel, N.J.-Holmdel) and Slocum nabbed spots within the top-25 all-time scores at Eastern. Slocum currently holds three spots, highlighted by a 9.925 to put her in a tie for fourth, while Valentin holds one, sitting in a tie for fifth with a 9.9. Moving to bars, the team had four competitors from this season etch their names into EMU laurels. Valentin led the way with a total of 12 appearances, making her arguably the top bar worker in program history. Additionally, she owns the second highest score in the EMU record books at a 9.925. Similarly, the beam squad was also very impressive. Sophomore Catie Conrad (Brighton, Mich.-Brighton) paced the team with six rankings, while junior Natalie Gervais (Winnipeg, Manitoba-Sturgeon Heights) was just behind her with five, posting the program's second highest score ever with a 9.925 The floor squad found their groove throughout the season, as Slocum posted a pair of 9.9's to lead the way in two appearances. In the all-around, Conrad was the workhorse for the team this season, posting four all-around scores within the top-25, highlighted by a career-best 39.35.
Throughout the season, the team was recognized for a number of awards and accolades. Slocum was named MAC Specialist of the Week on two occasions, while Valentin and junior Lacey Rubin (Plainview, N.Y.-Plainview Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy) earned weekly honors once. Additionally, Valentin was named MAC Scholar Athlete of the Week once, while Slocum earned the honor twice. Slocum and Valentin also earned First Team All-MAC honors, in addition to Conrad earning second team honors. Finally, Slocum was named MAC Specialist of the Year following the conference championships. Santos was also honored as Regional Coach of the Year following the regional championships.
In Santos' first year at the helm, the Eagles concluded the season with a fourth-place finish at the MAC Championships, scoring a 195.075. Additionally, Eastern sent a pair of gymnasts to NCAA Regionals, as Anna Willette and Carrina Lo Bello competed as all-arounders. Going up against some of the toughest competition in the nation, Lo Bello tied for ninth overall in the all-around with a 39.025, while Willette placed 14th overall with a 38.200.
Prior to taking over at Eastern Michigan, Santos served as the Associate Head Coach at the University of Illinois from 2011-14. Before Illinois, he worked as an Assistant Coach at Iowa State University and Ohio State University.
A national search to name Santos' replacement is underway.
"We are incredibly proud of both Jay and his wife Jessica as they did an exceptional job building our gymnastics team in their short time at EMU," Lyke stated. "We wish them all the best in the future. Coach Santos leaves our gymnastics program in tremendous standing, as our student-athletes will continue to compete for Mid-American Conference championships and postseason opportunities in the coming years."
In two seasons at the helm of the women's gymnastics program, Santos oversaw incredible improvements in each season. He took over the program on June 27, 2014, and compiled a record of 28-8-1, including an 8-4 Mid-American Conference mark. In his first season leading the Green and White, Santos guided the team to a 13-5 overall record while being named MAC Coach of the Year. Additionally, the 13 wins tied the team record for most wins in a season. This past season, the Eagles blossomed under his leadership, amassing a 15-3-1 record en route to capturing EMU's second-ever MAC Championship and an NCAA Regionals berth for the first time in EMU history.
"Our time at Eastern Michigan may have been brief, but we were able to accomplish some amazing things in a short time and take this program to new heights," remarked Santos. "I am incredibly proud of the transformation that the team made in just two years and it has been a tremendously rewarding experience. This team is an amazing group of young women and the success we had was due to their commitment, sacrifice and hard work; so I have no doubt that they will continue their success in the future. I want to deeply thank Heather for the opportunity to be a part of the Eastern family and for her support of the program over these last two seasons. Her outstanding leadership; along with Senior Women's Administrator Erin Kido and the rest of the senior administration is a big part of why this program was able to thrive and why the future is so bright for Eastern Michigan Gymnastics and the department as a whole. I would also like to thank the student-athletes families, gymnastics alumni and the EMU students and community for their incredible support in our time here. Go Eagles!"
The 2016 season was a banner year for the team under Santos, including a sensational regular season. The team defeated Big Ten Conference opponent Maryland twice, while also tying Ohio State. Additionally, the Green and White compiled a MAC record of 5-1, which was the most MAC wins by the Eagles since 1997. EMU took home runner-up honors for the regular season MAC title with victories over Ball State, Northern Illinois, Bowling Green, Western Michigan, and Central Michigan. As a team, the Eagles broke the team single meet record in three consecutive meets, culminating in the team's highest score ever. Beginning with a home victory over Central Michigan, Feb. 5, in which the team notched a 195.600, Eastern then nabbed a 195.975 on the road at Michigan, Feb. 8. The team's best meet ever came the following weekend on the road at Bowling Green, where the Green and White erupted for a huge 196.600.
Heading into the postseason, the Eagles looked primed for a run at the conference title. At the MAC Championships, the team excelled, taking home their second MAC title in program history, the first being in 2007. Eastern finished with a 196.425, in large part due to fantastic beam and floor rotations. Specifically, the team set a program record on beam with a 49.325, while the squad also posted three 9.9's on floor. From there, the team traveled to Ann Arbor for NCAA Regionals, where they once again impressed, finishing fourth with a score of 196.250. In the Crisler Center, the Green and White more than held their own against some of the top teams in the nation, finishing just .275 away from tying first-place Stanford and Auburn. In fact, after two rotations, the Eagles were tied for first-place in the talented field. Finally, sophomore Rachel Slocum (Holly Springs, N.C.-Holly Springs) earned a berth to the NCAA Championships, which was just the second in EMU history.
Individually, EMU was equally as successful. On vault, sophomore Kendall Valentin (Holmdel, N.J.-Holmdel) and Slocum nabbed spots within the top-25 all-time scores at Eastern. Slocum currently holds three spots, highlighted by a 9.925 to put her in a tie for fourth, while Valentin holds one, sitting in a tie for fifth with a 9.9. Moving to bars, the team had four competitors from this season etch their names into EMU laurels. Valentin led the way with a total of 12 appearances, making her arguably the top bar worker in program history. Additionally, she owns the second highest score in the EMU record books at a 9.925. Similarly, the beam squad was also very impressive. Sophomore Catie Conrad (Brighton, Mich.-Brighton) paced the team with six rankings, while junior Natalie Gervais (Winnipeg, Manitoba-Sturgeon Heights) was just behind her with five, posting the program's second highest score ever with a 9.925 The floor squad found their groove throughout the season, as Slocum posted a pair of 9.9's to lead the way in two appearances. In the all-around, Conrad was the workhorse for the team this season, posting four all-around scores within the top-25, highlighted by a career-best 39.35.
Throughout the season, the team was recognized for a number of awards and accolades. Slocum was named MAC Specialist of the Week on two occasions, while Valentin and junior Lacey Rubin (Plainview, N.Y.-Plainview Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy) earned weekly honors once. Additionally, Valentin was named MAC Scholar Athlete of the Week once, while Slocum earned the honor twice. Slocum and Valentin also earned First Team All-MAC honors, in addition to Conrad earning second team honors. Finally, Slocum was named MAC Specialist of the Year following the conference championships. Santos was also honored as Regional Coach of the Year following the regional championships.
In Santos' first year at the helm, the Eagles concluded the season with a fourth-place finish at the MAC Championships, scoring a 195.075. Additionally, Eastern sent a pair of gymnasts to NCAA Regionals, as Anna Willette and Carrina Lo Bello competed as all-arounders. Going up against some of the toughest competition in the nation, Lo Bello tied for ninth overall in the all-around with a 39.025, while Willette placed 14th overall with a 38.200.
Prior to taking over at Eastern Michigan, Santos served as the Associate Head Coach at the University of Illinois from 2011-14. Before Illinois, he worked as an Assistant Coach at Iowa State University and Ohio State University.
A national search to name Santos' replacement is underway.
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