Dave Kuzara - Women's Gymnastics Coach

Dave Kuzara

Title:
Assistant Coach
Alma Mater:
University of Michigan - Dearborn, '80
Email:
dkuzara@athletics.pitt.edu
Season at Pitt:
Fourth
Phone:
412-648-8327

Dave Kuzara was hired as the assistant coach of the University of Pittsburgh gymnastics team in July of 2017.

Career Highlights and Awards (Pitt)

Coached Pitt to three top-10 program marks on floor exercise
5 All-EAGL selections on floor (5 honors)
5 EAGL All-Tournament selections on floor (8 honors)

Career Highlights and Awards (Michigan/Western Michigan)

Mentored eight NCAA All-Americans
NCAA Northeast Region Assistant Coach of the Year (2015, 2016, 2017)
MAC Coach of the Year (2011)

University of Pittsburgh | Assistant Coach
2020

Helped lead the Panthers two to school records, including team road score (196.500) and vault score (49.325)
Primarily coaching floor exercise, led Pitt to two top-10 program marks (49.325, 49.275)
Five Panthers earned All-EAGL awards, including senior Michaela Burton, who led the team with three first team honors (bars, beam, floor)
Guided the Panthers to a combined 18 top-10 program marks, both individually and as a team
Picked to finish fourth in preseason, the Panthers defied expectations by finishing second in the final EAGL standings
The Panthers’ season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with two regular-season meets remaining on the schedule, including the 2020 EAGL Championship

2019

Helped guide Brittany West en route to her first NCAA Collegiate Gymnastics Championship appearance, competing on balance beam at the Athens Regional meet
To kick off the campaign, Pitt posted its highest season-opening team score in program history (194.750) while competing in front of 1,250 fans, marking a team record for the largest season-opening attendance
The Panthers placed fourth at the 2019 EAGL Championship in New Hampshire, marking their highest placement since winning the title in 2016
Six Panthers earned All-EAGL honors, and seven earned EAGL All-Tournament honors
Freshmen Olivia Miller and Kiley Robatin each earned EAGL Rookie of the Week Honors

2018

Named assistant coach of the University of Pittsburgh gymnastics program July 1, 2017
Helped lead Pitt to its first NCAA Regional Championship appearance since 2013, where the team posted the highest regional score in program history after scoring a 195.125 at the Columbus Regional
Helped guide the Panthers to 19 top-10 program marks in the 2018 season, both individually and as a team
Coached Pitt on floor, where the team tied the ninth best score in program history with a 49.275

University of Michigan | Assistant Coach | 2014-2017

NCAA Northeast Region Assistant Coach of the Year (2015, 2016, 2017)
Under Kuzara’s guidance, Michigan posted the program’s top five single-season scoring averages on vault and floor
Coached Joanna Sampson to second place finish at 2014 the NCAA Championship

Western Michigan University | Head Coach | 2010-2013

Team finished in the top three of the Mid-American Conference Championships all three years as coach
Won Mid-American Conference Championship in 2013
Named 2011 MAC Coach of the Year

University of Arkansas | Assistant Coach | 2007-2009

Assisted with three top 15 showings at the NCAA Championship, including the school’s first Super Six appearance in 2009
Coached three gymnasts to All-America honors on floor

West Virginia University | Assistant Coach | 2003-2006

Led team to 2004 EAGL Championship

University of Massachusetts | Head Coach | 1993-2002

Led program to Atlantic 10 titles in 1996 and 1997, the programs first championships in school history
A three-time Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year
Team qualified for the NCAA Regional Championships in nine of his ten seasons as coach
Coached 35 gymnasts who earned NACGC/W Scholastic All-America honors

University of Michigan | Assistant Coach | 1991-1993