Nicole Jones to Lead Husker Women's Gymnastics Program

An elite program builder with a proven record of elevating team performance and developing national-level athletes, Nicole Jones was named the sixth women’s gymnastics coach in Nebraska history by Athletic Director Troy Dannen on Saturday, April 25.

Jones, who has spent the past 16 seasons helping build Michigan State into a Big Ten and national power, comes to Lincoln after assisting MSU's run to its fifth consecutive NCAA Regional appearance. The Spartans were the Big Ten runner-up and closed the season with a No. 12 national ranking and a 24-8 record. MSU posted nine team scores of 197.000 or higher, including a season-high 197.700 in a win over No. 17 Auburn (March 6). Nikki Smith captured first-team All-America honors in both the all-around and on beam while being named Michigan State’s first-ever AAI Award Finalist.

Jones, who has spent the past nine seasons as the associate head coach for the Spartans, was part of the WCGA National Coaching Staff of the Year in 2022 and was also a regional assistant coach of the year in 2022, 2023, 2025 and 2026.

“Nebraska is committed to competing for championships at the highest level, and we are excited Nicole Jones will be leading Husker women’s gymnastics in our pursuit of those goals,” Dannen said. “Nicole brings an extraordinary track record of success and stability. Her gymnasts and teams not only show consistent improvement in competition, they also receive the mentoring and motivation to pursue their highest levels of personal success in the classroom and the community. We are confident that Nicole can help Nebraska compete for a Big Ten Championship in the near future.”

The success of Jones and the Spartans in 2026 followed the best season in history for Michigan State women’s gymnastics in 2025. Jones was named a WCGA Region I Assistant Coach of the Year while helping MSU to a final No. 6 national ranking and the program’s first team appearance at the NCAA Championships since 1988. The Spartans advanced to the NCAA Championship Semifinals after runner-up team finishes at the NCAA University Park Regional and Big Ten Championships that included a season-best 198.150 team score. Michigan State also finished with a program-record 29 wins for the second straight season. A record five Spartans combined to earn seven NCAA All-America honors, including first-team All-Americans Amy Doyle (vault), Sage Kellerman (vault), Skyla Schulte (floor) and Gabrielle Stephen (bars).

“It is an honor to be named the head coach of a Nebraska women’s gymnastics program that is so rich in tradition,and I look forward to leading our student-athletes to their highest levels of success in all areas,” Jones said. “From its 12 NCAA Finals appearances, 25 conference titles and more than 160 All-America awards, Nebraska has proven it belongs among the elite in the sport. Nebraska’s Academic All-America tradition is also unsurpassed across all sports, including 17 in women’s gymnastics. Add in Nebraska’s amazing gymnastics facilities and the support of the administration and Husker Nation, and all the ingredients are here to build champions in Lincoln.

“I’d like to thank Troy Dannen and Lonna Henrichs for this opportunity, and for putting their trust in me to lead the young women in the Nebraska program.”

In 2024, MSU won its first-ever Big Ten Championship in East Lansing before advancing to the NCAA Gainesville Regional Final. The Spartans, who finished No. 14 nationally, also went undefeated in Big Ten regular-season action on their way to a school-record 29 wins. The 2023 Spartans won the Big Ten regular-season title and took second at the Big Ten Championships before advancing to the NCAA Pittsburgh Regional Final and closing the season at No. 11 nationally. For her efforts, Jones was named a WCGA Regional Assistant Coach of the Year.

A WCGA National Assistant Coach of the Year in 2022, Jones helped the Spartans to a No. 9 final ranking and Big Ten runner-up finish before ending the season in the NCAA Seattle Regional Final. The MSU coaching staff was also named the WCGA Region 4 Assistant Coaches of the Year and the CollegeGymNews Coaching Staff of the Year.

A four-time All-Big Ten selection, Nicole (Curler) Jones qualified for the 2010 NCAA Championships as a senior after finishing fourth in the all-around at the NCAA Kentucky Regional. Her 39.525 all-around score against LSU (Feb. 29, 2008) ranks second in Michigan State history. She helped lead the Spartans to four consecutive NCAA Regional appearances, including a No. 17 final national ranking as a freshman, No. 18 as sophomore and No. 22 as a junior.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies in social sciences - human resources in 2010. The native of Bay City, Mich., is married to Dennis Jones and the couple has two daughters, Avery and Elyse, and a son, Nolan.