Bob Conkling has announced his retirement as the head coach of Illinois State gymnastics after 20 seasons and over 40 years in coaching. Under his leadership, the Redbirds claimed three Midwest Independent Conference (MIC) titles and Conkling was named MIC Coach of the Year twice, in 2022 and 2025. He leaves a legacy of over 100 wins, 33 NCAA Regional qualifiers, and numerous individual accolades among his gymnasts, solidifying ISU’s status in collegiate gymnastics. Conkling expressed pride in his coaching journey and a desire for new leadership to take the program forward.

By the Numbers
  • Three MIC championships under Conkling's guidance (2012, 2023, 2025).
  • More than 100 career wins as a head coach.
  • 33 gymnasts qualified for the NCAA Regionals during his tenure.
  • Redbirds recorded the fourth all-time program score of 196.375 in 2023.
Yes, But

While Conkling's tenure was marked by significant success and growth, there may be challenges for the next coach in maintaining momentum and addressing the evolving competitive landscape of collegiate gymnastics.

State of Play
  • Illinois State finished ranked No. 40 in the country in 2025.
  • Senior gymnasts earned multiple conference honors, including MIC Co-Athlete of the Year.
  • The Redbirds scored their second-highest team score of the season (196.025) at the 2025 MIC Championship.
What's Next

The Redbirds will now seek a new head coach to lead the program into the future, focusing on sustaining the competitive excellence established during Conkling's tenure and developing new talent.

Bottom Line

Conkling's retirement marks the end of an impactful era for ISU gymnastics, but the program's strong foundation presents an opportunity for continued success and growth under new leadership.