#84: Coach Jeff Graba — Head Women’s Gymnastics Coach at Auburn

Managing a team is always challenging.

Balancing the individual needs of each member, with the greater objectives of the group is never easy, especially for a workforce where burnout is at a record high.

Coach Jeff Graba is the Head Women’s Coach of the Auburn Tigers Gymnastics Program, who also coaches gymnastics all-stars such as Caitlin Atkinson, Samantha Cerio, Derrian Gobourne, Cassie Stevens, and most recently, welcomed Olympic Gold medalist Suni Lee to the team.

In nine seasons, Coach Graba has led his student-athletes to 16 All-American Honors (both NACGC/W and NCAA) and 22 All-SEC recognitions, including their first trip to the NCAA Championship Super Six in 2015, their first in 22 years.

In 2014 and 2015 he was named the SEC Coach of the Year, a title he earned through his unique coaching philosophy that focuses on gaining courage (not losing fear), on “aiming for a rising average,” and on preparing his players to fight against something they know they can’t win against: gravity.

In a sport where a team is made up it’s members completing dangerous routines alone, Coach Graba is able to give it’s individual players the confidence to perform, while guiding the whole team in the right direction.

WIth that…let’s bring it in!