Kent State Named Austyn Fobes as Women’s Gymnastics Head Coach
4/17/2026 8:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
Fobes to become the program’s third head coach, succeeding legendary Brice Biggin
KENT, Ohio – Kent State Vice President & Director of Athletics Randale L. Richmond announced today the hiring of Austyn Fobes as the third head coach in the history of the Kent State women's gymnastics program.
Fobes, who has served as an assistant coach with the Golden Flashes since August 2024, succeeds Brice Biggin, who announced his retirement in January following 35 seasons at the helm of the program.
"Brice Biggin set a standard over 35 years that few coaches in any sport can match, and finding the right person to carry that legacy forward was our most important priority," said Richmond. "Austyn Fobes is exactly the right person. She came to Kent State with an impressive background, immediately made an impact on our student-athletes and program, and has earned this opportunity. We look forward to watching her continue the great tradition of Kent State gymnastics."
Fobes inherits a program in strong standing, having been an integral part of its recent success. In her first season with Kent State in 2025, she helped the Golden Flashes capture the MAC Regular Season Championship, finishing a perfect 6-0 in conference play. The Flashes finished 11-5 overall and produced a season-high 196.400 against Ball State in the M.A.C. Center, while sending three individuals to the State College NCAA Regional and earning five All-MAC selections. Under Fobes' guidance on beam, Heidi Schultz claimed the event MAC title with a 9.875.
This past season, Fobes helped guide the Flashes to a 12-12 record, highlighted by Power-4 victories over West Virginia and Pittsburgh. Three student-athletes earned All-MAC honors: Charlie Behner (First Team, Vault), Jersey Bingman (Second Team, Vault), and Heidi Schultz (Second Team, Beam), while freshman Lana Mast was named to the All-Freshman Team on bars. Behner captured the MAC Championship on vault, and the Flashes sent three competitors to the NCAA Lexington Regional, with Behner (vault and bars), Bingman (vault), and Schultz (beam) all representing Kent State on the national stage.
"I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to step into the role of head coach," said Fobes. "I want to sincerely thank President Diacon and AD Randale L. Richmond for believing in my vision for this program and trusting me to carry forward the proud tradition of Kent State gymnastics. I'm also deeply appreciative of Brice Biggin for his guidance and for supporting me along the way. This is truly a dream come true, and I'm excited for what lies ahead."
Before joining the Golden Flashes, Fobes spent a season on staff at Bowling Green, where she helped Kathryn Weilbacher win the program's first MAC floor exercise title since 2017. Fobes also spent eight years from 2015 to 2023 as a Level 6-10 team coach at Premier Gymnastics in Morganville, New Jersey, where she trained multiple Division I student-athletes, focused on beam and floor choreography, and served as the office administrator for USA Gymnastics.
A four-year competitor at New Hampshire from 2010-13, Fobes was an NCAA Regional qualifier in each of her four seasons and was named Team MVP in 2013. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from New Hampshire in 2014.
Fobes takes over from a program-defining figure. Biggin's 35 seasons at Kent State produced 465 victories, the most in program history, along with 11 MAC Regular Season titles, eight MAC Championship titles, and 26 NCAA Regional appearances. In 2011, he guided the Golden Flashes to the NCAA National Championships, the only appearance by a MAC program in the national championship meet. Biggin earned National Coach of the Year honors that same year, was named Region Coach of the Year three times, and claimed 12 MAC Coach of the Year awards over the course of his career.
"I am thrilled and extremely excited that Austyn Fobes will be the new head women's gymnastics coach here at Kent State!" said Biggin. "Austyn was an elite gymnast who had a great college career at the University of New Hampshire and has been coaching at a high level since graduating. She brings a wealth of experience and knowledge and has been a really valuable addition for the last two years as an assistant with me. Austyn is well respected by the team, and her confidence and demeanor will be a perfect fit to continue our strong tradition here at Kent State! I am confident in what Austyn will do for the team and am thrilled for the team and Kent State that she will become the new face of women's gymnastics here!!"
Beyond his competitive accomplishments, Biggin leaves behind an unmatched legacy of developing student-athletes. His gymnasts earned 153 Scholastic All-America honors and 128 Academic All-MAC selections. Nine of his former athletes have been inducted into Kent State's Varsity K Hall of Fame.
Fobes becomes just the third coach in program history to lead the Golden Flashes, stepping into one of the MAC's most storied gymnastics positions. Coach Biggin will remain the head coach until May 31, and Fobes will take over on June 1.
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