BGSU gymnastics head coach Brittney Emmons has done exactly what she wanted to do in her first year with the Orange and Brown, revamp the culture and excitement around the gymnastics program.

Currently in her 13th year coaching collegiate gymnastics, Emmons credits watching the 1992 and 1996 Olympic gymnastics teams for inspiring her to start competing in the sport as a kid.

“They really just inspired me because of their passion for something that was not what you see every day in life,” Emmons said.

Emmons grew up competing in high-level club gymnastics, where she saw her coaches as supportive mentors.

“I was very fortunate to grow up in a club gym where I had the same club coaches my entire life, and I truly thank them for everything that they did and what they invested in me,” Emmons said.

Emmons transitioned from her individual club career to team gymnastics in 2009 when she started competing at Ball State.

Her impressive collegiate career was highlighted by three All-MAC seasons and qualifying for three NCAA Regionals. She was also a two-time team captain for the Cardinals.

Emmons suffered a season-ending achilles tear her senior year but was able to bounce back and compete at the highest level in her fifth season.

“Being able to take my fifth year and be recognized as MAC Senior Gymnast of the Year just kind of shows that support system that I had there,” Emmons said.

Although she is proud of her own collegiate accomplishments, she credits her family, coaches and teammates for providing the support needed to help her reach her high level of success.

Emmons looks back on her time at Ball State fondly and is proud of the legacy she left in Muncie.

“Making that impact as an athlete for my own self but also for Ball State as well, that was something that I will always cherish,” Emmons said.

After her collegiate career ended, Emmons immediately turned her focus to coaching. She moved to Utah State as a volunteer assistant coach in 2013 and spent the next four years with the Aggies.

The transition from playing at Ball State to coaching at Utah State took some time for Emmons to figure out.

“I understood my path of it all and now it was time to put the little bit of ‘I’ to the side and figure out how the ‘we’ piece of the sport worked on a different level,” Emmons said.

Emmons’ time at Utah State was crucial in developing her coaching skills and leadership style that would carry throughout her career.

“It took me that time at Utah State… to really figure out who I wanted to be as a coach…to be able to go into my role at SEMO and then be able to build myself at William & Mary to be ready for this position now,” she said.

After a two-year stint with SEMO and a five-year career at William & Mary, Emmons was hired in August of 2024 to take over at Bowling Green.

Emmons’ coaching philosophy centers around emphasizing both the individual and team aspects of gymnastics and how they coincide.

“I want to make sure that we are building each individual to their gymnastics and their needs so that way the team can be successful,” Emmons explained.

Influenced by her personal collegiate career, Emmons teaches her gymnasts to savor the season.

“Enjoy every moment because you’re not going to get these opportunities, in this setting, in this environment, with these teammates again,” she said.

Emmons hopes her gymnasts will take this advice into the 2025 postseason and seize the MAC Championship opportunity on March 22 in Mt. Pleasant, MI.

“When we walk into MAC Championships… the team with the least amount of mistakes walks out victorious,” Emmons said.

With her first year at Bowling Green almost over, Emmons is reflective of the team’s performances this season.

“I’m super proud of this team. I’m proud of what we’ve gone through and what we continue to do,” Emmons said. “I just want to give a big thanks to the community for coming out and supporting us on these first couple of months of this new step of BG gymnastics.”