position Associate Head Coach
Alma Mater School of Superior Physical Education (Havana, Cuba)
Casimiro Suarez was named assistant coach of the Ohio State men’s gymnastics team in the summer of 2011 and wrapped up his 12th season with the Buckeyes in 2022-23.
Suarez, a native of Havana, Cuba, came to Ohio State after coaching at Orlando Metro Gymnastics in Florida from 2002-2011. A U.S. Junior National Team coach since 2004, he was named the Junior Olympic coach of the year in 2010. Suarez served as the Cuban women’s national team coach from 1991-1994, was the Brazilian women’s national team coach from 1995-1998, and also spent three seasons at Oklahoma as an assistant coach for the women’s team from 1998-2000. Suarez coached former Buckeye Tai Lee to many prestigious awards, including the state and regional eight champion and a 10.0 honor awarded to the region’s outstanding high school senior in academics and gymnastics.
As a gymnast, Suarez was a member of the Cuban National Team for 16 years and won nine all-around national titles. He competed in the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, finishing sixth on high bar. Suarez also participated in the world championships seven times.
Suarez has a degree from the School of Superior Physical Education in Havana, Cuba, and brings more than 20 years of coaching experience to Columbus.
Coaching Accomplishments:
• Has more than 20 years of coaching experience at the junior, collegiate and international levels
• U.S. junior national team coach since 2004
• 2010 Junior Olympic Coach of the Year
• Coach at Orlando Metro Gymnastics, 2002-2011
• Head Coach – Cuba women’s national team, 1991-1994
• Head Coach – Brazil women’s national team, 1995-1998
• Assistant Coach – University of Oklahoma women’s team, 1998-2000
• First coach to claim team championships at both the junior and senior levels at Pan American Games with Brazil national team (1996-junior; 1997-senior)
• Assistant Coach, 2014 Senior Pan American Championships (with Sean Melton)
• Coached Olympic qualifier Soraya Carvalho in 1996
• Coached Olympic finalist Alec Yoder at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2021 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships
Gymnastics Accomplishments:
• Member of the 1980 Cuban National Team at the Olympics Games in Moscow, placing sixth on high bar
• Spent 16 years as a member of the Cuban National Team
• Nine-time all-around national champion (1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987)
• Competed in seven World championships
• Two-time all-around champion at Pan-American Games (1979 and 1983)
• Claimed team gold medal with Cuban national team at 1991 Pan-American Games, placing second on vault
• Claimed first place on high bar at 1986 World Cup
• Notched a perfect 10.0 on high bar at the 1981 World Championships in Moscow
• Competed in three World University Games championships (1981, 1983 and 1985)
• Two-time record in all sport competitions in all competing athletes with 19 medals (13 gold, five silver and one bronze)
• Posted six gold medals and one bronze medal in a 1983 competition
• Selected as a Top 10 Athlete in Latin America in both 1979 and 1983
• Holds the all-time record new elements in gymnastics code 5 known as “Suarez” (five on high bar and three parallel bars elements; currently has two on high bar and three on parallel bars)
