Bonds Stepping Down as Head Coach
July 19, 2011
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COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland acrobatics and tumbling head coach Jarnell Bonds announced Tuesday she will step down to an assistant coach role with the team. She will stay with the team through its camp in August.
Bonds led the Terrapins to three NCA national championships in 2007, 2008 and 2010, including the program's first grand national champions title in 2010, as well as an undefeated inaugural season competing in the National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association.
She coached six NCATA All-Americans and four event national champion groups. The Terrapins advanced to the 2011 NCATA championship meet and hold the league record for highest team routine score.
"I've been involved with Maryland for 13 seasons, won four national championships as a coach, and even one as a student-athlete back in 1999, but the most meaningful experiences are the personal relationships that I built with the coaching staff and my athletes," Bonds said. " I also want to thank the parents, support staff, administrators and most importantly, my friends and family that supported me while I held the role as head coach."
"I speak to the team often about setting goals so they were very mature and understanding that I must step down from the head coach role to pursue other professional goals that I have for myself."
Bonds will remain on the talented staff, along with former head coach Lura Fleece, assistant coaches Angela Fisher, Alexis Suter, and volunteer assistants Laura Chiriaco and Lauren Louis. All six staff members are Maryland alumni. Bonds, Fisher, Fleece and Suter have been on staff since the program's inception in 2003.
In her tenure, Bonds pioneered the way for competitive cheerleading to transform itself to acrobatics and tumbling. One of the founding members of the NCATA, she helped push the sport to new heights with a new meet format. Now, five other schools (Azusa Pacific, Baylor, Fairmont State, Oregon, Quinnipiac) have added acrobatics and tumbling teams.
A national search for a new head coach will begin immediately.
Bonds' full statement:
First, I want to say that this was a difficult decision because I have been passionate about the Terps for quite a while. I became involved with this program in 1998 as a freshman at the University of Maryland. After graduation, it was an honor to pioneer the new competitive cheer team.
I've been involved at Maryland for 13 seasons, won four national championships as a coach, and even one as a student-athlete back in 1999, but the most meaningful experiences are the personal relationships that I built with the coaching staff and my athletes. I also want to thank the parents, support staff, administrators and most importantly, my friends and family that supported me while I held the role as head coach.
I speak to the team often about setting goals so they were very mature and understanding that I must step down from the head coach role to pursue other professional goals that I have for myself. After I spoke with the team I received many loving texts of support which really warmed my heart.
The team is in a great position right now coming off an undefeated regular season and having the national championship come to such a narrow margin of 0.13 (283.482 to 283.352). The student-athletes are in top form, ready to attack another season. The new head coach is blessed to have a team of so many motivated, positive individuals to lead.
