Temple University Athletics
Umme Salim-Beasley
Umme Salim-Beasley Hired as Head Coach of Temple Women's Gymnastics
4.30.15 | Women's Gymnastics
PHILADELPHIA - Umme Salim-Beasley (ooo-me) has been hired as Temple University's head women's gymnastics coach, announced Vice President and Director of Athletics Kevin Clark on Thursday. Salim-Beasley has spent the past four seasons as an assistant coach at Rutgers University, and was named the East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) Assistant Coach of the Year in 2014.
"We are extremely excited to have the opportunity to hire a head coach as highly regarded as Umme Salim-Beasley who has such passion and love for the sport of gymnastics," said Senior Associate AD/Compliance & Student-Athlete Affairs Sherryta Freeman. "Her experience as a coach and an educator, along with her commitment to the development of our women's gymnasts, will propel our team onto the national stage while providing an outstanding experience for our student-athletes."
In her four years at Rutgers, Salim-Beasley served as the recruiting coordinator for the Scarlet Knights and worked with the uneven bars, among other day-to-day duties for the program.
Salim-Beasley helped Rutgers to a NCAA Regional berth in 2014 and its best EAGL finish in school history. Uneven bars were a big part of the success, as four gymnasts earned all-conference in the event.
In addition, Salim-Beasley guided one of her student-athletes, Alexis Gunzelman, to the top regional qualifying score (RQS) in the conference on bars (9.845) on the way to the first NCAA National all-around appearance by a Scarlet Knight in program history. Gunzelman posted a 9.800 at the national meet, her eighth consecutive meet with at least that score to end the season.
As recruiting coordinator, Salim-Beasley expanded the Scarlet Knights' base nationally to attract top talent from outside the area. Traditionally recruiting in New Jersey and the surrounding states, the Scarlet Knights were able to pull in gymnasts from Florida, South Carolina, Arizona and Massachusetts.
"I'm really excited about this opportunity," said Salim-Beasley. "The support that the Temple athletics administration has for women's gymnastics is tremendous. I'm really looking forward to shaping this team into a regional and national contender. With the talent and ability these student-athletes have currently, and what we'll bring in for the future, I think there are great things to come for Temple women's gymnastics."
Salim-Beasley brought impressive credentials to Rutgers, having competed collegiately at West Virginia University from 1995 to 1998. A native of Pasadena, Md., she was a two-time national qualifier at Hill's Gymnastic Training Center in Gaithersburg, Md., before earning a full scholarship to WVU.
Salim-Beasley was named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year as a freshman at West Virginia, and earned spots on the All-EAGL First Team in all-around, bars and beam her sophomore and junior seasons. She finished off her career by being named the EAGL Gymnast of the Year and Most Outstanding Senior Gymnast in her final season in Morgantown in addition to winning the EAGL all-around, bar and beam titles that year. Her accomplishments also ranked her as the fifth-best gymnast in the country and as a finalist for the AAI Award in 1998.
After graduating from West Virginia with a degree in early childhood education, Salim-Beasley went into coaching, starting as an assistant coach at Penn in 1999. During her one season with the Quakers, the team won the Ivy League Championships in addition to an undefeated regular season, breaking team records in every event.
Salim-Beasley returned to Morgantown as a volunteer assistant coach during the 2006-07 season.
For three years, she coached the Severna Park High School gymnastics team to two county championships, including an undefeated regular season in her first year. Additionally, she coached two different gymnasts to all-around championships.
Salim-Beasley was also a teacher at Eagle Cove School in Pasadena, Md., for four years and is working towards a masters in education from West Virginia University. She is married to former WVU football All-American and NFL veteran, Aaron Beasley, and the couple have three daughters: Amirah (12), Dahlia (9) and Layla (6).
"We are extremely excited to have the opportunity to hire a head coach as highly regarded as Umme Salim-Beasley who has such passion and love for the sport of gymnastics," said Senior Associate AD/Compliance & Student-Athlete Affairs Sherryta Freeman. "Her experience as a coach and an educator, along with her commitment to the development of our women's gymnasts, will propel our team onto the national stage while providing an outstanding experience for our student-athletes."
In her four years at Rutgers, Salim-Beasley served as the recruiting coordinator for the Scarlet Knights and worked with the uneven bars, among other day-to-day duties for the program.Salim-Beasley helped Rutgers to a NCAA Regional berth in 2014 and its best EAGL finish in school history. Uneven bars were a big part of the success, as four gymnasts earned all-conference in the event.
In addition, Salim-Beasley guided one of her student-athletes, Alexis Gunzelman, to the top regional qualifying score (RQS) in the conference on bars (9.845) on the way to the first NCAA National all-around appearance by a Scarlet Knight in program history. Gunzelman posted a 9.800 at the national meet, her eighth consecutive meet with at least that score to end the season.
As recruiting coordinator, Salim-Beasley expanded the Scarlet Knights' base nationally to attract top talent from outside the area. Traditionally recruiting in New Jersey and the surrounding states, the Scarlet Knights were able to pull in gymnasts from Florida, South Carolina, Arizona and Massachusetts.
"I'm really excited about this opportunity," said Salim-Beasley. "The support that the Temple athletics administration has for women's gymnastics is tremendous. I'm really looking forward to shaping this team into a regional and national contender. With the talent and ability these student-athletes have currently, and what we'll bring in for the future, I think there are great things to come for Temple women's gymnastics."
Salim-Beasley brought impressive credentials to Rutgers, having competed collegiately at West Virginia University from 1995 to 1998. A native of Pasadena, Md., she was a two-time national qualifier at Hill's Gymnastic Training Center in Gaithersburg, Md., before earning a full scholarship to WVU.
Salim-Beasley was named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year as a freshman at West Virginia, and earned spots on the All-EAGL First Team in all-around, bars and beam her sophomore and junior seasons. She finished off her career by being named the EAGL Gymnast of the Year and Most Outstanding Senior Gymnast in her final season in Morgantown in addition to winning the EAGL all-around, bar and beam titles that year. Her accomplishments also ranked her as the fifth-best gymnast in the country and as a finalist for the AAI Award in 1998.
After graduating from West Virginia with a degree in early childhood education, Salim-Beasley went into coaching, starting as an assistant coach at Penn in 1999. During her one season with the Quakers, the team won the Ivy League Championships in addition to an undefeated regular season, breaking team records in every event.
Salim-Beasley returned to Morgantown as a volunteer assistant coach during the 2006-07 season.
For three years, she coached the Severna Park High School gymnastics team to two county championships, including an undefeated regular season in her first year. Additionally, she coached two different gymnasts to all-around championships.
Salim-Beasley was also a teacher at Eagle Cove School in Pasadena, Md., for four years and is working towards a masters in education from West Virginia University. She is married to former WVU football All-American and NFL veteran, Aaron Beasley, and the couple have three daughters: Amirah (12), Dahlia (9) and Layla (6).
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