PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers Interim Athletic Director Ryan Pisarri announced today that Anastasia Candia has been promoted to head coach of the gymnastics program. Candia takes over her alma mater having spent the previous seven seasons as an assistant coach.
 
"We are delighted to announce Anastasia as our head gymnastics coach," said Pisarri. "As a letterwinner and alumnae, I know she cares deeply for this program. Her leadership this past season was exceptional and her ability to connect with our student-athletes was evident. I look forward to watching how the program continues to grow under her guidance."
 
"I am honored to accept this new role as head coach at a place I've called home for 11 years," said Candia. "New Jersey is a place that takes pride in everything it has to offer, and I am proud to represent such an incredible University and athletic department. I am thankful to those who have put their full trust and belief in me to make this program one that Rutgers and the State of New Jersey are excited about.
 
"I am ready to lead this program to new heights in the Big Ten and nationally for the years to come. I can't wait for everyone to see what I've seen in this special group of young women because we are just getting started."
 
Candia, who served as acting head coach since January, guided the Scarlet Knights to a breakout season, capped by being named the 2025 Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) Region 3 Head Coach of the Year. Assistant coaches Danielle DeMarco and Michael Rosso were named WCGA Region 3 Assistant Coaches of the Year.
 
The Scarlet Knights enjoyed a record-setting campaign in 2025 as the program earned its first NCAA Championships appearance since 2014. Rutgers clinched the NCAA berth this season with a 196.225 at the Big Ten Championships, the team's best performance at the conference meet since joining the league in 2015.
 
The 2025 Scarlet Knights scored three of the program's top eight scores in its history, while posting two of the top six uneven bars scores and two of its top nine balance beam scores. The team was also ranked No. 22 in the nation on beam during the 2025 campaign. RU recorded 16 victories this season, its most since 2014 – when Candia (formerly Halbig) was a student-athlete on that squad.
 
Candia has been on the Scarlet Knights' coaching staff since 2018 and previously was a four-year gymnastics letterwinner at Rutgers from 2011-15. She served as an assistant coach from 2018-21 and associate head coach from 2022-24.
 
Candia has been leading the coaching efforts on beam during her time "On the Banks," where Rutgers has rewritten the record books. Under her guidance, the Scarlet Knights established 10 of its top 11 scores in program history since the 2020 season, including the current school record of 49.400 set in 2023. Candia helped guide Stephanie Zannella and Hannah Joyner on beam at the NCAA Regional Championships in 2023. She coached two more NCAA Regional qualifiers – Gabrielle Dildy and Rachael Riley – on beam in 2025.
 
The beam squad also earned its first-ever podium finishes in program history at the Big Ten Championships in 2021 with Joyner and Belle Huang capturing a pair of bronze medals. Candia mentored Joyner in 2021 to become the program's third national qualifier and first-ever on beam, while matching the school record on beam with a 9.950. She has coached the program's previous three record holders in the event – Erin McLachlan, Joyner and Riley.
 
Prior to her Rutgers coaching stint, Candia spent three seasons as an assistant at Temple. As a Scarlet Knight, Candia contributed to the program's highest team score at the time. During that record-setting meet as a junior, she earned a new career high of 9.875 on balance beam. Also in 2014, she was named the Most Improved Gymnast of the Year for showing the most growth and reaching three career bests overall.
 
Candia earned her undergraduate degree in psychology at Rutgers and completed her master's degree in counseling psychology at Temple. She is working towards a doctoral degree in sport psychology at Temple.
 
Candia takes over as the ninth head coach in the program's history, replacing Umme Salim-Beasley.
 
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About Rutgers Athletics
The Rutgers Department of Intercollegiate Athletics (Rutgers Athletics), comprised of 24 men's and women's varsity sports serving more than 730 student-athletes, is a member of the Big Ten Conference and governed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Rutgers is the Birthplace of College Football, hosting the first-ever collegiate matchup on Nov. 6, 1869, a 6-4 victory over Princeton. Rutgers Athletics is uniquely positioned in the nation's largest media market with over seven million television households, along with access to Big Ten Network and its nearly 60 million homes across the U.S. and Canada. Established in 1766, Rutgers University is the State University of New Jersey and eighth-oldest higher education institution in the country. As a premier academic institution, Rutgers is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram for all of the latest news and updates. Also visit ScarletKnights.com for additional information on Rutgers Athletics.
 
 
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