BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – LIU Athletics announced today that Taylor Colwell will be hired as the new head coach of the gymnastics program.

"It's an honor beyond measure to lead LIU Gymnastics and I would like to thank President Dr. Kim Cline and Elliott Charles for this incredible opportunity," Colwell shared.  "Long Island has always held a special place in my heart, and I feel incredibly fortunate to return home and live out my dreams of becoming a head gymnastics coach at the Division I level."

Colwell began her college career at Lindenwood University where she was a bars, beam, and floor specialist.  As an athlete, she was part of the 2017, 2018, and 2019 MIC Conference Championship team, the 2019 USAG National Champions, and Lindenwood's first NCAA Team Regional appearance in 2019. 

As a coach, she joins LIU with a wealth of experience having served as an assistant coach at Central Michigan, where she was the lead coach on bars and coached the 2024 MAC Bar Champion. Additionally, she was an assistant coach at Southeast Missouri (SEMO), and Lindenwood University. Colwell has coached multiple athletes to earn All-MIC honors, USAG All-American honors and WCGA All-American honors on bars plus helped build the program at Central Michigan.

"We are thrilled to bring Taylor Colwell on to lead our gymnastics program," said LIU Director of Athletics Elliott Charles. "She brings years of experience as both a gymnast and a coach that is invaluable to this new role and we are lucky to have her join the LIU family. We are looking forward to seeing our gymnastics program compete at the highest levels for years to come."

Colwell's coaching career has been marked by a dedication to athlete development, team culture, and integrity. Her mentors and colleagues in the gymnastics community are confident in her ability to succeed in her new role.

What they're saying about Coach Taylor Colwell
Jenn Llewellyn, Head Gymnastics Coach at the University of Iowa
"Taylor has a deep passion for the sport of gymnastics and prioritizes doing it the right way in every move she makes. She is loyal, caring, and a servant leader. She's going to put in the work and make sure the student-athletes are cared for in every aspect of life."
 
Ashley Lawson, Head Gymnastics Coach at Southeast Missouri
"Taylor is amazing. I truly hope she shines and y'all fall in love with her!! She's destined for greatness and has the passion and energy to create a legacy wherever she is."
 
Dana Duckworth, former Head Gymnastics Coach at the University of Alabama
"Taylor was impressive from the first moment we met in the interview process. She puts the athletes first, she feels a great deal of pride that Long Island is her home, and she has the unique experience of coaching at the DI and DII levels. She was an athlete at the inception of a start-up program at Lindenwood and is fully aware it will be a grind, a journey, and she is prepared to put in the work. She has a clear vision, knows what it takes, and has unwavering core values."