Eastern Michigan Athletics
Gymnastics Announces the Hiring of Assistant Coach Zaakira Muhammad
7/15/2019 9:57:00 AM | Gymnastics
Muhammad joins the Eagles prior to the 2020 season Monday, July 15
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Eastern Michigan University Gymnastics Head Coach Katie Minasola announced the hiring of Zaakira Muhammad as an assistant coach, Monday, July 15.
"I am thrilled to add Zaakira to our staff," said Minasola. "She brings top notch collegiate experience as a former student-athlete. I am looking forward to having a complete staff to help build the culture we have already established."
Muhammad comes to Eastern from Temple University where she was a Graduate Assistant Coach for Women's Gymnastics, and took on the title of Head Vault Coach. While at Temple, Muhammad helped coach the team to its highest ranking in over 20 years, won the Eastern College Athletic Conference for the first time in school history, and coached freshman, Ariana Castrence, on vault, at the 2019 Regionals in Athens, Ga.
The Pennsauken, N.J. native competed for West Virginia University from 2014-2018, where she earned NCAA All-American Second Team, Academic All-Big 12 Second Team, and qualified for the 2017 National Championships in all-around. Muhammad was honored three times with the Linda Burnette-Good Award as the most valuable gymnast at WVU, and was twice the highest all-around scorer of the season for the Mountaineers .
The new Eastern Michigan Assistant Gymnastics Coach also coached at TNT Elite Gymnastics as a level 10 Assistant Coach. There she choreographed beam routines, coached leaps and jumps on floor and beam, and counseled the teens.
"I am thrilled to add Zaakira to our staff," said Minasola. "She brings top notch collegiate experience as a former student-athlete. I am looking forward to having a complete staff to help build the culture we have already established."
Muhammad comes to Eastern from Temple University where she was a Graduate Assistant Coach for Women's Gymnastics, and took on the title of Head Vault Coach. While at Temple, Muhammad helped coach the team to its highest ranking in over 20 years, won the Eastern College Athletic Conference for the first time in school history, and coached freshman, Ariana Castrence, on vault, at the 2019 Regionals in Athens, Ga.
The Pennsauken, N.J. native competed for West Virginia University from 2014-2018, where she earned NCAA All-American Second Team, Academic All-Big 12 Second Team, and qualified for the 2017 National Championships in all-around. Muhammad was honored three times with the Linda Burnette-Good Award as the most valuable gymnast at WVU, and was twice the highest all-around scorer of the season for the Mountaineers .
The new Eastern Michigan Assistant Gymnastics Coach also coached at TNT Elite Gymnastics as a level 10 Assistant Coach. There she choreographed beam routines, coached leaps and jumps on floor and beam, and counseled the teens.
The Zaakira Mohammad File
Name: Zaakira Mohammad
High School: Pennsauken High School - Pennsauken, N.J.
College: West Virginia University - Bachelor's degree in Journalism
Hometown: Pennsauken, N.J.
Professional Experience
Year School/Company Position
2019- Present Eastern Michigan University Assistant Coach
2018-2019 Temple University Gymnastics Graduate Assistant Coach
2018-2019 TNT Elite Gymnastics Assistant Coach (Level 10)
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