Avery Guides Hamm Twins at U.S. National Team Training Camp – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/17/2008 12:00:00 AM | General, Men's Gymnastics
Three-time Olympic coach holds FIG Brevet distinction
COLUMBUS, Ohio Miles Avery, Ohio State men’s gymnastics head coach, left today for a U.S. Senior National Team training camp in Colorado Springs, Colo., as coach of two-time Olympians Paul and Morgan Hamm. The U.S. Senior National team will hold an exhibition tri-meet Friday night at the Olympic Training Center.
In his 11th season at the helm of the Buckeye squad, Avery has served on the U.S. Olympic coaching staff three times, including the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Games. Under the guidance of Avery, Paul Hamm became the first U.S. male gymnast to claim gold in the all-around at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
This fall, the accomplished coach added another credential to his resume, earning the distinction as an International Federation of Gymnastics (FIG) Brevet coach. Avery is one of 10 U.S. coaches and one of only two collegiate coaches (John Valdez, Illinois assistant coach is the other) to complete the rigorous coaching academy.
“It was one of the hardest programs I have done as a coach as far as professional development goes,” Avery, a native of Philadelphia, said. “I hope more coaches do it. I hope my assistant coaches will be nominated by our federation to take the classes because we want to have the most educated coaches of all sports.
“Our Ohio State squad is going to be better because I went to this FIG Level III academy. Some of the things I learned at the week long academy impacted our student-athletes immediately, so it was a good use of time and resources to take this course as I continue to grow and learn how to be a better coach.”
In the future, acquiring the FIG Brevet coaching status will be a requirement to be on the floor as a gymnastics coach at the Olympics.
This weekend, the U.S. National team, including Paul Hamm will be joined by Morgan Hamm, who is returning from injury, and former Buckeye and 2004 Olympic alternate Raj Bhavsar at the training camp.
