gymcats-gymnastics-associate-head-coach-taylor-spears-departs | Arizona Desert Swarm

She was a national champion on balance beam as an Oklahoma Sooner. She has been a force in recruiting and training as the associate head coach of the Arizona GymCats. Now, Taylor Spears is looking for the next challenge.

“Wearing the Block A and representing this university has meant so much to me,” Spears wrote in her social media posts. “After much consideration, I have decided to step away from college athletics to pursue other personal goals in life.”

Spears announced her departure from Arizona on Wednesday afternoon. She has been on the staff of head coach John Court since the 2019 season and was elevated to associate head coach after the 2022 season. She joined the staff for Court’s first full season as the GymCats’ head coach.

“Taylor has made incredible contributions to our program over the past seven years,” Court said. “She has helped with our competitive growth, has coached the team to record-breaking performances, has experienced coaching in the postseason, and helped all of our gymnasts graduate in her seven years with Arizona. I will miss her and will support her anyway I can as she writes her next chapter.”

Spears joined fellow assistants Kylie Kratchwell and Shelby Martinez as the Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association’s Regional Assistant Coaches of the Year for the South Central Region after the 2025 season. It was the second time Spears had received WCGA recognition as part of the Arizona coaching staff.

Kratchwell joined Spears with the title of associate head coach after last season’s great showing, which had Arizona reach the regional finals for the first time since the postseason format changed in 2019. The program went 5-1 in its first Big 12 season and finished second at the Big 12 Gymnastics Championships. It also produced the Big 12 co-Specialist of the Year and the Big 12 Coach of the Year. Spears joined Kratchwell as the primary event coaches of conference specialist of the year Elena Deets, who competed on bars and beam.

Court plans to conduct a national search for the third assistant position, but he’s comfortable with the current staff handling training until he finds the right person.

“Arizona is a special place and we have an amazing program with great people,” Court said. “It has to be the right fit.”

Martinez will take over as the primary coach of balance beam, at least until the third assistant position is filled. The 2014 Pac-12 co-champion on vault during her time as a GymCat was the primary vault coach last season. Court was the primary vault coach before Martinez joined the staff last year.