Jason Collins has joined the Redhawks Gymnastics program as an assistant coach. Collins comes to SEMO after spending one season at Yale. Prior to Yale, he worked as the vice president, chief athletic office, director of men's gymnastics and women's elite team coach at EVO Athletics.
SEMO Head Coach Ashley Lawson said he brings a wealth of gymnastics knowledge and experience and will make an instant impact in the gym, and he is strong on the technical side of gymnastics.
Collins certainly has an interesting life journey on his way to SEMO. He began coaching gymnastics at the age of 15, but after high school, he attended the Juilliard School in New York, where he received his Bachelor's of voice. He then obtained his Master's in opera performance from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
He began his career as a professional opera singer and classical musician, traveling the globe, singing in front of crowds as large as 80,000 in the most prestigious halls, stadiums and theatres.
Additionally, Collins has several recordings, one of which is listed in the New York Post as one of Ruth Bader Ginsberg's "Top 10 Opera Recordings" and nominated for Best New Opera by the Cannes Music Festival.
After traveling all over the country and the world, Collins returned to gymnastics with a passion for the artistic side of the sport. This passion was inspired by his formal training at Juilliard and The Curtis Institute.
A true believer in the art form of gymnastics, Collins brings a wealth of coaching experience to SEMO. Matching his 15-year's worth of professional opera singing accomplishments, Collins' gymnastics achievements are just as remarkable.
He was awarded 2015 USAG Coach of the Year for the state of Florida and served as a coach for the United States Olympic Developmental teams at the state, regional, national and international levels from 2015-18. Collins helped coach Olympic and current world champion Simone Biles.
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