BYU names its new gymnastics coach. Who is Natalie Broekman?

BYU’s women’s gymnastics Associate Head Coach Natalie Broekman hugs BYU’s Chloee Hoke after she performed on the balance beam as they compete in the NCAA regional semifinals for gymnastics at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Thursday, April 3, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News

Guard Young’s successor as BYU gymnastics head coach has been chosen, and the program is promoting from within.

Natalie Broekman was named BYU’s gymnastics coach Monday, nearly a month after Young did not have his contract renewed by the school.

“We are excited to name Natalie Broekman the head coach of BYU gymnastics and look forward to the program taking the next step forward under her leadership,” BYU athletic director Brian Santiago said in a news release.

“Natalie brings continuity and the ability to uniquely lift, build and empower her student-athletes. She is all-in on BYU and what we’re about here. The future is very bright for BYU gymnastics.”

Young was not retained despite being named the 2026 Big 12 Coach of the Year following a season where BYU went 11-9, finished third in the Big 12 and earned a 196.250 score with a third-place finish in their NCAA regional appearance in Tempe, Arizona.

Young, himself an All-American gymnast at BYU, had been the Cougars’ head coach for 11 years and finished in the top 25 national rankings six times during his tenure.

Now, Broekman takes over the helm of the BYU program.

She has been a part of the Cougars’ coaching staff since 2015 and was elevated to associate head coach under Young in 2021.

Broekman has served as the team’s primary balance beam coach and also assisted with other responsibilities, including student-athlete development, recruiting, summer camps, team promotion, community outreach, competitions and alumni relations.