Arkansas announced on Apr. 28 that Jordyn Wieber will step down as head coach of its gymnastics program, with assistant coach Chris Brooks being promoted to head coach effective immediately.
Wieber said in a statement, “Serving as Head Coach of Arkansas Gymnastics has been an honor. I’m deeply grateful to our student-athletes, staff, and Razorback fans for an unforgettable journey. With a heavy, but full heart and immense pride in what we have accomplished, I’m stepping away from athletics to focus on my family and other passions. I’m excited for what’s ahead and will forever be cheering on the Razorbacks!”
During her seven seasons leading the team, Wieber guided Arkansas gymnastics to two national championship appearances, 30 combined All-America honors, and 40 total All-SEC nods. Under her leadership, all of the program’s top ten team scores were achieved along with record performances on vault, beam, and floor. Attendance also grew during her tenure; the team moved to Bud Walton Arena full time beginning in the 2025 season and set new single-season (39,574) and average (7,915) attendance records. In March 2026 alone, Arkansas brought in over 15,000 fans for a meet at Bud Walton Arena.
Academically under Wieber’s guidance, Arkansas placed double-digit athletes on the SEC Winter Academic Honor Roll each year since her arrival and posted a program record GPA of 3.72 in 2025.
Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Hunter Yurachek said: “I am so grateful for Coach Wieber and everything she has done for our gymnastics program… She has built our program into one of the elite programs in the nation while connecting with our fanbase in a new energetic way to make our home meets inside Bud Walton Arena must-see events.” Yurachek added that Brooks’ passion made him an easy choice for head coach: “His work alongside Coach Wieber has helped turn the Gymbacks into what they are today. I believe Coach Brooks will continue to grow our program moving forward.”
Brooks joined Arkansas as an assistant when Wieber was hired in 2019. He served primarily as uneven bars coach but also assisted with vault coaching duties. Eight of Arkansas’ best thirteen bars scores occurred under his guidance; three gymnasts qualified individually for nationals on bars since his arrival—the most by event since 2020.
Brooks brings nearly ten years of NCAA coaching experience from prior roles at Nebraska women’s gymnastics and Oklahoma men’s programs—his alma mater—where he contributed to conference titles and national championship finishes both as athlete and coach.
“I would like to thank Hunter Yurachek and the University of Arkansas Athletics Department for the incredible opportunity to lead this program,” Brooks said.” I am grateful for the foundation that Jordyn has helped build through the last seven seasons… The next chapter is an exciting one for my family and for the Gymbacks.”
