#001 College Gymnastics: From Recruiting to Reality

Inside College Gymnastics: Coach Josh Nilson on Recruiting, Burnout, and Standing Out

By Ian Jeppsen

If you're a gymnast between the ages of 16 and 25 with dreams of competing in college, you need to hear what Illinois Head Coach Josh Nilson has to say. With years of coaching experience and a fresh perspective on the evolving recruiting landscape, Coach Nilson dropped serious insight in our recent conversation — the kind you won’t hear at the gym chalk box.

Recruiting Isn’t Just for All-Arounders Anymore

Let’s break one myth right away: you don’t need to be a perfect all-around gymnast to make it on a D1 roster. In fact, thanks to NCAA scholarship rule changes, there’s more room than ever for event specialists. “If I’ve got 20 girls doing two events at a high level, I don’t need an all-arounder,” says Nilson. “I literally told one of our recruits, you’re never going to vault. It’s not your thing — and that’s OK.”

Instead of pushing yourself to be a four-event hero, focus on what you excel at and present yourself as a solution. “If your best event is beam and I’ve got a weak beam lineup — guess what, I’m listening,” Nilson says. “Find the program that needs what you bring.”

Social Media Is Your New Recruiting Tool

If you think your Instagram doesn’t matter — think again. Coaches are looking at your social presence as early as freshman year. “Some of the athletes following me now are in the class of ‘28 or ‘29,” Nilson said. “It starts there.”

His advice? Keep your social clean, post your skills, and show your personality. College gymnastics is a team environment — coaches aren’t just scouting skills; they’re scouting teammates.

Camps > Cold Emails

While sending highlight reels still has its place, attending college camps is one of the best ways to get on a coach’s radar. “My last two commits — I met them at camp. I wasn’t even aware of them before that,” Nilson shared. Camps give gymnasts a chance to feel out a program’s coaching style, team culture, and energy — and allow coaches to see how you handle feedback in real time.

Avoiding Burnout Starts Now

Nilson isn’t just recruiting talent — he’s recruiting passion. His program intentionally trains fewer hours to prioritize mental/physical health and long-term sustainability. “If I had to be in the gym 10 hours a day, I’d burn out too,” he said. His advice for club gymnasts? Start training like a college athlete now — focused, efficient, and balanced with life outside of the gym.

Final Words of Advice

“Don’t give up too soon,” Nilson says. “Just because you're not on someone’s radar yet doesn't mean you’re out of options. One of my signees took a gap year and earned her shot. She became a solution for us. That’s what we’re looking for.”

So if you're serious about college gymnastics, take control of your recruiting journey: clean up your socials, go to camps, polish your strengths, and most of all — know your worth.