Women's Gymnastics
- Title:
- Head Coach, Women's Gymnastics
- Phone:
- 412-383-9078
MacPherson enters her third season at the helm of the Pitt gymnastics program after spending the previous 10 seasons at the University of Missouri. She served as the associate head coach for the past three years after spending her first six seasons as an assistant coach at Mizzou. MacPherson was the head beam coach while assisting on floor exercise for the Tigers.
Last season, Pitt opened competition with a win at the Next Level Podium Challenge and earned 10 podium finishes and three event titles. Meika Lee was named ACC Freshman of the Week for her performance. The Panthers earned their second highest score in program history (196.575) with a win over West Virginia at the Fitzgerald Field House on March 9. Darbi Simcox recorded a career-high 9.925 on beam, good for sixth best in program history, and the vault, bars and floor squads earned season highs. MacPherson guided seniors Jah'Liyah Bedminster, Jordyn Ewing and Jaime Pratt to become AAI Award nominees, given to the best senior gymnast in the country. Pratt capped off her career as a NCAA Regional qualifier on vault.
The Panthers earned their first ACC win in program history against North Carolina in 2024 under the direction of MacPherson, along with a share of third place at the first ever ACC Championship with a 196.300 score. Hallie Copperwheat and Ewing earned podium finishes as they both tied for second overall on beam (9.900) and floor (9.950), respectively. Bedminster and Ewing were named All-ACC on floor and qualified for NCAA Regionals on the event.
In her 10 seasons with the Tigers, MacPherson helped bring Mizzou gymnastics to national prominence. Missouri's top eight all-time beam scores, and nine of the top 12, have all come under her direction. She also coached three Tigers to WCGA Regular Season All-America honors on the apparatus.
During her run in the 2023 season, MacPherson's beam team dominated, setting a new beam program-high score of 49.550 against Arkansas. Over the season, Mizzou earned at least a 49.200 on the apparatus seven times, with three of them being 49.500 or better. At the NCAA Regional Second Round, the Tigers posted a 49.475 on the balance beam, pushing the team to a new regional program high. Alisa Sheremeta confirmed a spot as an individual competitor on the beam based on her 9.950 performance in the NCAA Regional Final and went on to claim All-America honors on beam at the 2023 NCAA Championship.
In 2021, MacPherson's beam team finished the regular season ranked 10th nationally with a national qualifying score of 49.369. Over the course of the season, the Tigers scored at least 49.250 on the event six times, including three times of 49.400 or better. At the NCAA Tuscaloosa second round, MacPherson's team totaled 49.450 on beam, which shattered the postseason team beam record and marked the team's second-highest beam score in program history.
MacPherson began her tenure at Missouri after helping lead the Western Michigan Broncos to the 2013 Mid-American Conference Championship. With Western Michigan, MacPherson was the assistant coach and was responsible for beam and floor workouts, choreography, and routine construction.
During her time as a student-athlete for the Arkansas Razorbacks, MacPherson claimed 71 individual event titles and eight All-American honors. Her outstanding leadership helped lead Arkansas to a fifth-place national finish in 2009, 10th-place national finished in 2009, and 11th overall in 2010. Additionally, she secured the SEC Championship beam title, was a two-time NCAA Regional Beam and Floor Champion, and she was the 2010 NCAA all-around runner-up. During her junior year as a Razorback, MacPherson shattered the all-around program record with a 39.675 and went on to tie it three more times in her season.
She was a two-time First Team All-SEC honoree and a four-time Academic All-SEC selection, and MacPherson was also named the team's most outstanding gymnast twice.
MacPherson joined the Arkansas gymnastics staff as a student-assistant in 2011 and helped the team to a ninth-place finish at the 2011 NCAA Championships. She continued to perform at the senior international elite level competing in the 2011 and 2012 American Classic, the 2011 and 2012 Covergirl Classic, and the 2011 Visa Championships.
Along with her degree from the University of Arkansas, MacPherson graduated in 2019 from the NCAA Women Coaches Academy.
