McFarland Joins Tribe Women's Gymnastics Staff

10/12/06 3:00PM

Williamsburg - William and Mary women’s gymnastics head coach Mary Lewis has announced the hiring of Katie McFarland as assistant coach. McFarland brings a tremendous gymnastics background to the Tribe program, having competed both at the national and collegiate level while also holding an extensive coaching resume at the club level.

A former Senior International Elite U.S. National Team member, McFarland comes to W&M after most recently serving as the Level 9 and 10 women’s team coach at the Gymstrada Gymnastics Club in Virginia Beach.

“I’m very excited about Katie joining the program,” said Lewis. “Obviously, having been an international elite competitor, Katie brings an amazing technical background and will be a huge addition to the program.”

While at Gymstrada, McFarland was responsible for coaching all four events, including beam choreography and handled various administrative duties for meet entries and travel accommodations.

McFarland coached three Level 10 regional qualifiers and three Level 9 qualifiers in 2006 and guided the Gymstrada team to a third place finish in the Cancun Classic in Mexico. Overall in three years at Gymstrada, McFarland coached four Level 10 regional qualifiers, over 20 Level 9 regional qualifiers, a Level 10 all-around state champion and six Level 9 Eastern National Qualifiers, while guiding Gymstrada to the Level 9 state champion-ship in 2004 and a runner-up finish in 2005.

Prior to her stint at Gymstrada, McFarland served as an interim coach for Levels 7 and 8 at Excalibur Gymnastics in Virginia Beach and was also the head women’s coach at First Colonial High School in Virginia Beach, where she was responsible for all aspects of the program including choreography, apparel, home meet organization, fundraising and eligibility reports.

As a competitor, McFarland was active on the national level from 1993 until joining the University of Florida’s nationally-ranked program in 2000. McFarland’s career highlights include the Senior National Floor Championship at the American Classic is 1997, U.S. National Championship qualifications from 1995 to 1998 and a stint on the Senior U.S. Women’s National Team in 1998-99.

A native of Virginia Beach, McFarland graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Exercise Science from Old Dominion University in 2005.