Women's Gymnastics
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
2014 EAGL Assistant Coach of the Year
Umme Salim-Beasley is in her fourth season as an assistant coach at Rutgers. The 2014 East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) Assistant Coach of the Year primary works with the uneven bars and serves as the recruiting coordinator for the Scarlet Knights, among other day-to-day duties within the program.
Salim-Beasley helped RU 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 (Alexis Gunzelman, Luisa Leal, Emma Hoffman and Charly Santagado). Hoffman also brought in an EAGL Specialist of the Week honor (Jan. 29), after posting a career-high 9.850 on bars.
[quote]Umme has done a great job during her three seasons on staff and is well-deserving of this honor,[quote] head coach Louis Levine said of Salim-Beasley earning EAGL Assistant Coach of the Year. [quote]She has raised the level of recruiting, expanding our base from regional to national. In addition, she has been instrumental in leading our bars lineup. It is great to see Umme recognized for her work.[quote]
In addition, Salim-Beasley guided 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 has expanded RU[apos]s base nationally to attract top talent from outside the area. Traditionally recruiting in New Jersey and the surrounding states, the Scarlet Knights now have gymnasts from Florida, South Carolina, Arizona and Massachusetts on the roster.
Salim-Beasley brought impressive credentials to Rutgers, having competed collegiately at West Virginia, an EAGL member, from 1995 to 1998. A native of Pasadena, Md., she was a two-time national qualifier at Hill[apos]s Gymnastic Training Center in Gaithersburg, Md., before earning a full scholarship to West Virginia University.
Making an impact right away, Salim-Beasley was named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year as a freshman 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 B.A. in early childhood education, she went into coaching, starting as an assistant coach at the University of Pennsylvania in 1999. During her one season there, 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 also was a teacher at Eagle Cove School in Pasadena, Md., for four years and is working towards a M.A. in Education from West Virginia University.
Umme is married to former WVU football All-American and NFL veteran, Aaron Beasley. They reside in Hillsborough, N.J., with their three daughters: Amirah (11), Dahlia (8) and Layla (5).
