DENVER – Joy S. Burns Women's Gymnastics Head Coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart has signed a multi-year contract extension through the 2026-27 academic year, University of Denver Vice Chancellor for Athletics and Ritchie Center Operations Josh Berlo announced on Wednesday.
 
Kutcher-Rinehart is entering her 25^th season as the University of Denver gymnastics head coach in 2023. The 2019 WCGA National Head Coach of the Year led DU to its first Big 12 Gymnastics Championship in 2021 and a record-shattering fourth-place finish at the NCAA National Championships in 2019.
 
"I commend Melissa and DU Gymnastics on their storied past and am grateful for the opportunity to work to further their impressive legacy of student-athlete academic and competitive excellence," Berlo said. "I'm thankful to inherit the efforts of former vice chancellor Karlton Creech and University leadership to make this extension a reality. I look forward to working with Melissa for years to come and for the opportunity to watch the program expand its accomplishments into the future."
 
A six-time WCGA Regional Coach of the Year and two-time Big 12 Coach of the Year, Kutcher-Rinehart has guided Denver to 23 straight NCAA Regionals appearances and has had at least one gymnast qualify to the NCAA National Championships in 22 consecutive seasons (excluding 2020 when the competition was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic).
 
"I am truly humbled and inspired by the contract extension," Kutcher-Rinehart said. "I want to thank former vice chancellor Karlton Creech, current vice chancellor Josh Berlo, University chancellor Jeremy Haefner, the Board of Trustees and our sport administrator Julie Campbell for their belief in me as a leader and mentor. With their leadership and support, our student-athletes are provided the opportunity to compete at the highest level academically and athletically.
 
"I take great pride in the University of Denver, the athletic department and the gymnastics program, and I am grateful to continue to lead the program while emphasizing our philosophy of character, teamwork and excellence."
 
Since taking over the program in 1999, Kutcher-Rinehart has coached Denver to new heights, beginning with the team's first-ever appearance at the NCAA National Championships in 2001, which marked the first time a medium-sized private school had advanced to the competition. DU also qualified in back-to-back seasons (2007, 2008) and then again in 2017 before advancing to the NCAA National Championship Final for the first time in 2019.
 
Both of Denver's NCAA Division I individual national champions have come during her tenure, with Nina McGee doing so on floor in 2016 and Lynnzee Brown also on floor in 2019. Additionally, she has coached 11 postseason All-Americans to a combined 30 honors.
 
In 2016, Kutcher-Rinehart helped transition DU into the Big 12 Conference as an affiliate member. The team captured the conference title in 2021 and in 2022, Denver became the first Big 12 affiliate member to host a Big 12 Gymnastics Championship and the first team to host the championship on podium.
 
Kutcher-Rinehart's program has hosted NCAA Regionals four times (2002, 2004, 2007, 2011) and is preparing to do so again in 2023.
 
On March 24, 2022, the University of Denver Division of Athletics announced the Joy S. Burns Women's Gymnastics Head Coaching endowment, part of the largest gift in the department's history. It became the fourth head coaching endowment in Denver history (men's soccer in 2021, men's lacrosse in 2020, hockey in 2018).
 
Denver is coming off a successful 2022 campaign in which the team finished ranked No. 13 in the nation both athletically and academically. Among the student-athletes returning to the roster in 2023 are graduate students Lynnzee Brown and Alexandria Ruiz, both of whom received additional years of eligibility (medical redshirt and COVID-19, respectively).
 
Junior Jessica Hutchinson, who was named the 2022 Big 12 Gymnast of the Year and won the Big 12 all-around title, will also help lead Denver in 2023 along with fellow Big 12 champions junior Rylie Mundell and sophomore Momoko Iwai.
 
Four newcomers will join Denver this upcoming season in freshmen Mila Brusch, Cecilia Cooley, Ava Mabanta and Kiley Rorich.

Like Denver Pioneers and Denver Gymnastics on Facebook.
Follow @DU_Pioneers and @DU_Gymnastics on Twitter.
Follow @DenverPioneers and @Denver_Gymnastics on Instagram.