LOUIS LEVINE HEAD COACH
Louis Levine, who has 10 years of coaching experience, enters his first season as the head coach of the Rutgers University gymnastics program after serving three seasons as an assistant coach on the Scarlet Knights’ staff. “We are excited to elevate Lou and continue the great strides the gymnastics program has made in recent years,” said Rutgers Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Tim Pernetti when Levine was hired on May 9, 2011. “Lou has shown great enthusiasm and a strong vision for the program. We have all the confidence he will bring this program to the elite level of collegiate gymnastics.” “I am extremely honored and excited for this opportunity,” said Levine. “I want to thank Tim and his staff for believing in me. I also want to thank former head coach Chrystal Chollet-Norton for her sincere mentorship these last three years. The sky is the limit for this program and I intend to build on the great strides we have made in recent years in taking the Scarlet Knights to the next level. New Jersey is a great area for gymnastics and we are the only Division I collegiate gymnastics team in the state. As a New Jersey native, I look to build a winning program with a great representation of our home state.” In his three seasons on the Rutgers staff, the Scarlet Knights have achieved great success. The 2011 squad established a school-record for victories in a season with a 19-8 overall mark and enjoyed its highest-ever finish and score (fifth and 193.625) in the East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) Championships. Three gymnasts – sophomores Danielle D’Elia (Colts Neck, N.J.), Jenna Zito (Rockaway, N.J.) and freshman Luisa Leal-Restrepo (Cali, Colombia) – earned a berth in the NCAA Regionals, marking the program’s first representation in the regionals since 2007. Levine helped coach three gymnasts to All-EAGL honors including Leal-Restrepo, who was named the EAGL Rookie of the Year in her first season “On the Banks.” As a team, the Scarlet Knights improved their regional qualifying score by nearly three full points from the prior season to a mark of 193.265. RU posted the third-highest score in school history (194.35) and broke the school’s vault record (48.825) during the season. Levine helped recruit and worked with eight combined freshmen and sophomores who were major contributors in the lineup this past season. A native of Maplewood, N.J., Levine returned to his home state after three years as the Director of the International Gymnastics Camp in Stroudsburg, Pa. from 2005-08. He also coached at Surgent’s Elite School of Gymnastics in Roselle Park, N.J. from 2008-09. Levine spent time with the USA Gymnastics team in Daegu, South Korea where he was an assistant coach for the World University Games. He began his coaching career at his alma mater, the University of Michigan, where he served three seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator from 2002-04. Levine oversaw all
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aspects of Michigan’s recruiting operations and helped organize the program’s operating budget. During his time at Michigan, he served on the planning committee for the program’s freshman student-athlete orientation program, helping mentor newcomers. While a member of the Wolverines’ staff, he coached 2003 NCAA Vault Champion Andrew DiGiore. He has coached several Junior National Team and Senior National Team members and a Junior National Champion in the All-Around. Levine competed on the vault during his time at Michigan where he helped guide the Wolverines to a pair of Big Ten titles in 1999 and 2000 and the 1999 NCAA Championship. He was a twotime recipient of the Coaches Appreciation Award. Levine received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan in 2002 and masters from the American InterContinental University Business School in 2006. A decorated gymnast, Levine attended Columbia High School in Maplewood, N.J. He currently resides in nearby Springfield, N.J. THE LEVINE FILE
2011-Present: Head Gymnastics Coach, Rutgers University Piscataway, N.J. 2008-11: Assistant Gymnastics Coach, Rutgers University Piscataway, N.J. 2006-07: Director of Operations, Eventwise Adelaide, Australia 2005-08: Assistant Director, International Gymnastics Camp Stroudsburg, Pa. 2002-04: Assistant Men’s Gymnastics Coach, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Mich. 2003: Assistant Gymnastics Coach, USA Gymnastics Indianapolis, Ind. 2000-02: Assistant Media Director, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Mich.