Moving past their nationwide 17^th finish, the Iowa Hawkeyes will eye an even greater run next season. And this time, the new coaching addition, Lydia Test, will be in for the ride with the GymHawks.

Drawing curtains on her 4-year tenure with Southeast Missouri State, Test has joined the GymHawks as an Assistant coach. And in her Friday announcement, head coach Jen Llewellyn had nothing but praise for the newcomer.

“We are thrilled to welcome Lydia to the Hawkeye family,” said Llewellyn. “Lydia brings incredible energy, a positive perspective, and a passion for student-athlete development that aligns perfectly with the values at the University of Iowa and the culture we are building.”

And Llewellyn’s claims are on point, given that Test knows both ends of the sport. After competing for 2 seasons at SEMO, she transitioned to a student assistant and served as the team choreographer for 2 seasons.

But her true excellence was displayed in 2025, when she clinched MIC Assistant Coach of the Year honors. And this year, leading the program to another MIC success, she earned the WCGNIC Assistant Coach of the Year.

After quite a successful season, the GymHawks are already in a comfortable spot. And adding Test on top of that will only enhance their game further.

How Lydia Test Can Enhance the Iowa Gymnastics

Finishing with a 14-6 record, 6-3 in the Big Ten, the GymHawks are on their 26-season consecutive NCAA Regional appearance streak. But despite an NQS of 196.473, the head coach knew Test would add more.

“(Lydia’s) enthusiasm and commitment to excellence will help us continue the growth and momentum of our program moving forward,” Llewellyn said in her announcement speech.

Initially, Test excels in floor, vault, and choreography. And she can level up the GymHawk’s performance on both of these apparatuses, as they ranked 19^th on vault and 24^th on beam and floor, but 12^th on bar.

Moving forward, what else do you think Lydia Test will bring to Iowa’s locker room? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Deblina Roy

Edited by

Souvik Roy