The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1537777
12 THE WOLVERINE ❱ AUGUST 2025 ❱ INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS BEV PLOCKI RETIRES AFTER A LEGENDARY CAREER LEADING WOMEN'S GYMNASTICS Women's gymnastics head coach Bev Plocki announced her retirement July 16 after 36 seasons leading the program. Longtime assistant coach Maile'ana Kanewa-Hermelyn was immediately named Plocki's successor. Plocki completely overhauled U-M into a national power, culminating in the program's first-ever national champion- ship 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, and made 26 NCAA Champion- ship 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 giv- ing me not just a job, but a life, a purpose, and a family. Serv- ing 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!" Athletics 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. … 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 [her husband] Jim immense enjoyment in her well-deserved retirement." Kanewa-Hermelyn, who was a gymnast at Oklahoma from 2012-16, has spent the last seven 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. "It's an absolute honor to lead the University of Michigan Women's Gymnastics program — a place where excellence is tradition and the block M stands for something bigger than all of us," Kanewa-Hermelyn said. "I'm committed to continue building a culture rooted in integrity, grit, and joy as well as helping these incredible young women thrive in and out of the gym. I want them to leave here after their four years as powerful and strong women, and leaders ready to take on the world. I am dedicated to not only bettering this team and these athletes, but also our staff and program. We're here to raise the standard and compete for champion- ships the Michigan way. Let's Go Blue!" MICHIGAN FINISHES 13TH IN DIRECTORS' CUP U-M finished 13th in the 2024-25 Learfield Directors' Cup final standings for Division I, headlined by strong showings from men's gymnastics (100 points), wom- en's tennis (83), women's swimming (69), men's swim- ming (66), wrestling (64.5) and men's basketball (64). The Wolverines tallied 928.50 points and ranked fourth among Big Ten schools behind USC (1,253.75, second overall), UCLA (1,149, fifth) and Ohio State (1,032.25, eighth). Michi- gan's spring totals were led by women's tennis' third-place finish, while rowing and women's lacrosse added 57 and 53 points to the total, respectively. Five of the eligible teams scored must be women's basket- ball, soccer, volleyball, men's basketball and baseball. U-M's output was affected by the basketball programs being the only two of that group to make the postseason in their sports. Texas won the all-sports competition with 1,255.25 points. — Anthony Broome MAIZE AND BLUE NOTEBOOK Plocki, who built the Michigan's women's gymnastics program into a national powerhouse, led her squads to 26 Big Ten championships and the 2021 NCAA championship. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETICS