Jones, Wright Named WCGA Central Region Assistants of the Year

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State gymnastics associate head coach Nicole Jones and assistant Devin Wright were named Central Region Assistant Coaches of Year by the Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA), the organization announced Wednesday.

The duo earns their second-straight WCGA Regional Assistant Coaches of the Year nod and third in the last four seasons (2023, 2025-26). It is Jones' fourth assistant of the year recognition overall, also earning the award in 2022. Jones and Wright share this year's award with Alabama assistants Justin Spring, Amelia Hundley and Ross Thompson.

Under Jones, MSU's primary beam coach, the Spartans' beam squad tallied a season-high 49.375 at the Big Ten Championships and earned a pair of podium finishes on the event with sophomore Cady Duplissis and freshman Lilia Cosman posting 9.900s for a share of bronze. Over the course of the season, six different Spartans recorded at least one score of 9.900 or better on the event. Jones was also responsible for all floor choreography, helping MSU to three top 15 all-time team floor scores in 2026.

Wright led MSU to a No. 7 national ranking on vault and No. 10 national ranking on floor during the 2026 season, continuing the Spartans' unprecedented success on the leg events since her arrival in 2023. In addition to its three top 15 all-time floor scores, MSU also posted the No. 2 and No. 4 all-time vault scores, while senior Nikki Smith scored a perfect 10.000 on both events this season.

MSU made its fifth-straight NCAA Regional Final appearance and earned its fifth-consecutive top-two team finish at the Big Ten Championships under Jones' and Wright's guidance in 2026.

Smith, alongside senior Sage Kellerman and junior Gabi Ortiz, will compete as individuals at the NCAA Championships on Thursday, April 16 at 4:30 p.m. ET inside Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.