Former Stanford All-American Tabitha Yim was named coach of the Cardinal women’s gymnastics team, Stanford Director of Athletics Bernard Muir announced Wednesday.
Yim, a former Cardinal assistant coach, returns to the program after spending the past two seasons as Arizona’s coach.
“I want to thank Bernard Muir and the staff at Stanford for this opportunity,” said Yim. “I am thrilled to be returning home to The Farm, and am passionate about carrying on the amazing legacy of this program and university.”
During Yim’s first coaching stint at Stanford, she was responsible for gymnasts in all four events, specializing in beam and floor as an elite choreographer.
“I had an incredible scholar-athlete experience at Stanford shaped by the coaches, faculty, and staff who were committed to my development as a student, athlete and person,” Tim said. “I will forever remain thankful for the support of John Court, David McCreary and the Arizona staff, and I am grateful to Bernard and the Stanford family for entrusting me with the responsibility of leading this program towards continued success.”
Yim led the Cardinal’s recruiting efforts and played an integral role in the team’s social media efforts. She helped coach Stanford to its two highest team scores at an NCAA Championship competition in program history at the 2012 Super Six (197.500) and 2015 Super Six (197.250).
“I couldn’t be more pleased to welcome Tabitha back to The Farm,” said Muir. “Her credentials as a gymnast and a coach speak for themselves, and I know she’s ready to help our student-athletes reach their full potential in the gym, in the classroom, and in their lives beyond campus.”
Yim, who competed at Stanford between 2005-08, earned 14 All-America honors, the most in school history. She placed among the top 10 in the NCAA all-around competition all four years and twice won Pac-10 and NCAA regional all-around titles. In addition, Yim was named Pac-10 and Regional Gymnast of the Year during her senior season.
As an extremely versatile gymnast, Yim won two regional titles and one Pac-10 championship on the balance beam, was a two-time regional uneven bars champion, and twice placed third in the floor exercise at the NCAA championships.
Yim competed for the United States national team that placed third at the World Championships in 2001, the same year she won the floor exercise at the U.S. Championships. She also won a U.S. Championship on beam in 2002 and finished fourth in the all-around at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials.
Yim spent two years teaching prior to entering the coaching field. She taught sixth grade in Charlestown, Massachusetts, as a part of the Citizen Schools program and spent the next year teaching ninth grade in Los Angeles as part of Teach for America.
By Stanford Athletics
By Stanford Athletics
By Stanford Athletics