Head coach Jeff Graba has put the Auburn gymnastics program on the map throughout his almost 15 years on the Plains. Now entering his 14th season at the helm in 2024, Graba looks to maintain momentum with this year’s Tiger squad..

The Minnesota native was named SEC Coach of the Year in 2014 and 2015 and SEC co-Coach of the Year in 2012. 

In 2023, Auburn saw big performances from upperclassmen. Cassie Stevens was a first team All-American on vault and won a share of the event title at the SEC Championship. Derrian Gobourne earned All-America honors on floor, was named SEC Specialist of the Year for the third-straight season and reached the NCAA Championships as an individual in the event, while Sunisa Lee was an All-American on bars and in the all-around. 

In addition, Stevens was named the SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year. 

The 2022 season was one for the record books as the team broke or tied every single record possible – overall and home score (198.575), road score (197.8375), vault (t-49.500), bars (49.675), beam (49.725) and floor (49.800). Eleven of the program’s top 12 scores came in 2023. 

In addition, the Tigers set or tied all individual records – vault: Drew Watson and Stevens (9.975); bars:  Lee (2x, 10.0); beam: Lee (3x, 10.0); floor: Gobourne (10.0); all-around: Lee (39.825). 

Lee, the 2021 Olympic Gold Medalist in the all-around, finished with eight All-America honors, was NCAA champion on beam and SEC champion on bars. She was named the 2022 SEC Freshman of the Year and a finalist for the Honda Award. 

Gobourne finished with three All-America honors and was named the SEC Co-Specialist of the Year for the second season in a row. Sophia Groth earned two All-America honors, while freshman Sara Hubbard and Watson finished as All-Americans on vault. 

As a team, the Tigers secured the program’s best finish as the squad reached the Final Four and finished fourth overall. Auburn’s third-place finish at the SEC Championship was also the program’s best in the eight-team format. 

Gobourne was the 2021 SEC Co-Specialist of the Year as she exceled on vault, bars, and floor. She was a first team All-American and All-SEC on floor as well. 

A pair of Tigers earned All-America honors in 2020. Watson picked up first team recognition on vault and her selection marked the first All-America honor for a Tiger in the category since 2016.

Gobourne was placed on the second team for her efforts on bars in 2020. Her All-America honor in the event is the first for any Tiger on bars at the conclusion of the regular season.

Auburn’s performances in 2019 were big for the program as the squad reached the sport’s first-ever Sweet Sixteen and finished 16th in the final rankings. 

The program saw its first national champion in 2019 when Gobourne came in a tie for first on vault. The then-freshman scored a career-best 9.95, picking up All-America honors along the way.

In addition, Samantha Cerio secured the SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year for the sport.
 
Graba and the 2016 team added to the list of firsts for the program under his guidance. The Tigers snapped the 117-meet losing skid to Alabama, defeating the Crimson Tide at home (197.275-197.250). Auburn also defeated Georgia in Athens for the first time in program history, setting a new program-high road score on the way (197.325).
 
In addition, the Tigers earned the program’s first No. 1 NCAA regional seed and captured the NCAA Ann Arbor Regional title with a 196.525.
 
Auburn enjoyed a breakout season in 2015 as Graba led the Tigers to the NCAA Championship Super Six for the first time in 22 years. Auburn’s sixth place finish at the Super Six was the Tigers’ third best in history and highest since 1993 with a score of 197.075. The Tigers finished with a score of 195.625.
  
In 13 seasons, Graba has led his student-athletes to 35 All-America honors (both WCGA and NCAA) and 40 All-SEC recognitions. Among those is Caitlin Atkinson who amassed nine All-America nods and named SEC Gymnast of the Year in 2016.
 
Graba and the Tigers have enjoyed growth when it comes to home attendance. The team’s attendance has reached its peak after averaging just 3,583 fans in his first season. 

The 2022 Tigers increased attendance in Neville Arena and sold out all five home meets (9,121). The Tigers have enjoyed 20 sellouts. 
 
Academically, Graba’s teams have also been outstanding in the classroom. In total, the Tigers have totaled 65 NACGC/W Scholastic All-America nods and 138 SEC Academic Honor Roll recognitions.
 
Graba was named Auburn head coach on August 16, 2010. He came to The Plains after spending five years as an assistant coach at Utah. While with the Utes, he earned the 2009 West Region Assistant Coach of the Year.

Graba is a native of Forest Lake, Minn., and graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in economics and earned his M.B.A. from Salem International University in 2011. He and his wife, Bridget, have five children: Bryan, Jaymie, Jason, Kyla and Shayla.