GYMNASTICS • 2003-06

Justin Spring was a four-time NCAA individual champion and 13-time All-American during his sterling Illini career. The 2006 Nissan-Emery Award winner as the nation’s outstanding senior gymnast, Spring also was named the Big Ten Gymnast of the Year that season and won three Big Ten individual titles during his career. He finished as a three-time First-Team All-Big Ten honoree and won the Dike Eddleman Illinois Male Athlete of the Year twice (2004 and 2006). He finished his Illini career with school records on floor exercise, vault, parallel bars and high bar. While at Illinois in 2005, Spring became the first Illini gymnast to win a national title at the Visa Championships, winning the gold on high bar. He repeated his high bar national title in 2007, while also finishing as silver medalist on floor exercise. Spring went on to win the national title again on parallel bars at the 2008 Visa Championships. He is a five-time U.S. Senior National Team member and helped the 2008 U.S. Olympic team to a bronze medal at the Beijing Games. Spring served on the Illini men’s gymnastics staff for 16 seasons, including time as head coach from 2011-22, leading the Illini to the 2012 NCAA Championship and named National Coach of the Year. He also led the Illini to four Big Ten championships as head coach.