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Newsstand: Bev Plocki retires after storied Michigan career

Anthony Broomeby: Anthony Broome07/17/25anthonytbroome
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Michigan Wolverines women’s gymnastics head coach Bev Plocki announced on July 16 her retirement after 36 seasons leading the program. Longtime assistant Maile-ana Kanewa-Hermelyn was named Plocki’s successor.

Plocki completely overhauled U-M into a national power, culminating in the program’s first-ever national championship in 2021. Among her accomplishments are 26 Big Ten championships, which is the most by any head coach in any sport in conference history. The Wolverines won eight Big Ten regular-season titles, 26 NCAA Championship appearances and 10 NCAA Super Six berths.

“It’s hard to put into words what this moment means to me,” Plocki said in a statement. “At 23 years old, I was just a young woman with a passion for gymnastics and a dream, when three incredible leaders — Bo Schembechler, Jack Weidenbach and Phyllis Ocker — took a chance on me. They believed in me before I had proven anything, and because of their faith, I’ve had the privilege of spending my entire career here at the University of Michigan.” Plocki said. “It’s been the journey of a lifetime, but let me be clear, I did not do this alone. I’ve had the honor of working alongside some of the most amazing assistant coaches in the country — coaches who challenged me, inspired me and gave their all to this program. …

“To the entire Michigan community — thank you for giving me not just a job, but a life, a purpose, and a family. Serving as the head coach of the University of Michigan Women’s Gymnastics program has been the greatest honor of my life. Not many people get to say they only ever had one job, but I did. And it was the best one imaginable. I may be stepping away from the floor, but I’ll never be far from this program or the people who make it so special. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. And as always … forever, Go Blue!”

Athletic director Warde Manuel said, “Bev is an icon in the women’s gymnastics community and stands as one of the most successful coaches in the history of the sport. No coach in the history of the Big Ten Conference in any sport has won more titles than Bev. She built and sustained one of the nation’s premier gymnastics programs, highlighted by winning the 2021 national championship and 26 Big Ten titles. The success Bev has brought to our program is unparalleled, and the gymnasts she has nurtured into exceptional athletes, students and citizens are unmatched. We will deeply miss her presence in the gym but wish Bev and Jim immense enjoyment in her well-deserved retirement.”

Kanewa-Hermelyn, who was a gymnast at Oklahoma from 2012-16, has spent the last 7 seasons in Ann Arbor as a full-time assistant from 2020-25 and a volunteer assistant during the 2019 season. She is the seventh head coach in program history.

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