Grace McCallum leaving Utah to join Minnesota as assistant coach

Olympic silver medalist and Utah alum Grace McCallum is going home.

The 23-year-old will join Minnesota as an assistant coach, the Golden Gophers announced Friday.

McCallum spent the past season serving as a student assistant coach for the Red Rocks after finishing her collegiate career in 2025. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, earning a 4.0 GPA.

“It’s hard to describe what this opportunity means to me,” McCallum said. “From being a young gymnast who admired this program, to now joining Minnesota gymnastics as a coach, it truly feels like a full-circle moment. I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn from and work alongside such an amazing staff and group of student-athletes. I can’t wait to help continue the tradition and excellence that makes this program so special. Forever and Always Golden!”

McCallum is an Isanti, Minnesota native. She trained at Twin City Twisters and graduated from Minnesota Connections Academy.

During her time at Utah, McCallum earned eight perfect 10s and was one of the top all-arounders and bars workers in the country. While she never won an NCAA title, she finished runner-up five times, including on bars in 2023 and in every individual event except beam in 2025. McCallum won multiple conferences titles in the Pac-12 and Big 12, highlighted by finishing her career as the 2025 Big 12 all-around champion and vault co-champion. She was also a 15-time All-American (8 regular season, 7 NCAA).

McCallum replaces Minnesota great Mya Hooten, who left the program soon after the Gophers’ Cinderella run to the Four on the Floor. Hooten took another coaching opportunity at her former club gym, Classic Gymnastics.