McLean County Times

The Illinois State gymnastics program has announced the appointment of Cassandra Ringer as its new head coach. This decision was made public by Dr. Jeri Beggs, the Director of Athletics at Illinois State. Ringer takes over from Bob Conkling, who retired after a 20-year tenure with the team.

"We are excited to welcome Cass back to Illinois State and look forward to her leadership of the Redbird Gymnastics program," said Beggs. "Cass brings a wealth of experience, passion and enthusiasm with her from Ball State and we look forward to seeing how she puts her mark on this program."

Ringer previously served as an assistant coach at Ball State since 2018 and worked at Illinois State as a graduate assistant coach and choreographer during the 2017-18 season.

"I am beyond thrilled and extremely grateful to join the Redbird family," Ringer expressed. "I would like to thank Dr. Jeri Beggs, Cindy Harris, and the entire athletics staff for this amazing opportunity to lead the Illinois State Gymnastics program."

During her time at Ball State, Ringer contributed significantly to the team's success, helping them achieve Mid-American Conference regular season titles in 2023 and 2024, along with NCAA Regionals berths in those years. Under her guidance, Ball State achieved a dual record of 83-48-1 (.633) and notable achievements in MAC competitions.

Ringer's expertise extended to floor exercises where she helped produce some of the highest scores in program history. Her student-athletes excelled under her coaching, setting records across various events.

Before joining Ball State, Ringer gained experience at West Chester University of Pennsylvania and other gymnastics institutions. She holds a bachelor's degree in nutrition and dietetics from West Chester University and a master's degree in public administration with additional certifications.

GoRedbirds.com remains a resource for information on Illinois State athletics.