Iowa State discontinues troubled women's gymnastics program

"The decision, announced by athletic director Jamie Pollard on Tuesday, comes not long after the school canceled the remainder of its 2026 season because of what Pollard described as "unresolvable" issues between players, coaches and parents. Pollard said the school will replace gymnastics with another women's sport that "provides equal or additional participation opportunities" for female athletes."

"Women's gymnastics underwent a "complete review" in 2018 because of various issues. In 2023, the university hired a Minnesota-based law firm to do an independent evaluation of the program, leading to sweeping changes that included implementing a new coaching staff. When similar issues cropped up three years later, Iowa State initially opted to cancel the remainder of the season."

""The student athlete experience is at the core of what our department takes great pride in," Pollard said. "Our continued inability by our department to provide our women's gymnastics team" [with a positive experience led to this decision]. A leadership council within the university spent weeks talking to various stakeholders around the program before recommending women's gymnastics be discontinued."

Iowa State University has decided to end its women's gymnastics program following the cancellation of the 2026 season due to unresolvable issues among players, coaches, and parents. Athletic director Jamie Pollard cited a decade-long pattern of problems within the program, including a complete review in 2018 and an independent evaluation in 2023 that led to coaching staff changes. Despite these interventions, similar conflicts emerged again, prompting the university to discontinue the program. Current and incoming gymnasts will have their scholarships honored, with continued access to departmental services and transfer portal assistance. The coaching staff, including head coach Ashley Miles Greig, will not have contracts renewed. Iowa State plans to replace gymnastics with another women's sport offering equal or additional participation opportunities.

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