Hettinger
Auburn gymnastics recently named former University of Illinois gymnast, Kurt Hettinger, as assistant coach for the upcoming season.
Hettinger comes to Auburn from Kent State where he served as assistant for the past three years.
Before that, he served as the first graduate assistant in two decades.
While at Kent State, Hettinger served as the head bars coach, leading the girl’s team to a 2007 Top 25 national ranking.
He helped lead them to two Mid-American Conference Championships and three consecutive regular season titles. Hettinger also coached gymnast Kristin Peters to a MAC uneven bars title last year.
Hettinger worked with head coach Brice Biggin on tumbling and vault. He also worked with the summer camps and served as a recruiting coordinator.
Previous to his time at Kent State, Hettinger returned to his alma mater, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, to serve as assistant coach, 2003. He coached the men’s team to a fifth place national ranking that season.
Hettinger previously worked for the Champaign County YMCA, where he headed the development of the Class VI and Elite boys programs, as well as the girls, level 8-10.
Hettinger is a two-time member of the USA gymnastics Region V Junior Boys coaching staff.
As a gymnast at Illinois, Hettinger earned four varsity letters from 1996 to 1999. He led them to a third place finish at the NCAA Men’s Gymnastics Championships in 1998.
“I decided to come to Auburn because it has great academics and great athletics,” Hettinger said. “I am looking forward to the conference meets of the new season. The atmosphere of SEC gymnastics is amazing.”
With the Tigers, Hettinger will work in recruiting, along with his assistant position.
“I will probably be working with the gym in general,” Hettinger said. “Jeff (the head coach) needs to see where my strengths are before I specialize.”
His wife Katherine and he moved to Auburn in May.
“My wife and I love it here,” Hettinger said. “I really like Momma Goldberg’s and Cheeburger Cheeburger. I am also a big golfer, but have not had a chance to play all the courses yet.”
Hettinger heads back to his alma mater’s state for the first meet of the season against Illinois-Chicago, Jan. 4.
“I hope to help lead the Tigers back to the NCAA Championships, as well as a top-3 SEC ranking,” Hettinger said. “I am looking forward to working with the girls; it’s going to be a good time.”
